North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshals Announced



The Grand Marshals for the 2017 North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade are USA Olympian Amber Campbell and former Coastal Carolina University (CCU) Coach Alan Connie.  Coach Connie was Amber's Head Coach while she attended Coastal Carolina University.
Amber, a resident of Myrtle Beach, is one of the top track and field athletes in the world, competing in the hammer throw. A three-time USA Olympian (2008, 2012 and 2016), she has also represented Team USA at five Outdoor World Track and Field Championships (2005,2009,2011, 2013 and 2015).  At the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, her sixth place finish was the highest finish ever by a USA Olympian in the hammer throw, and her throw was the best ever by a USA Olympian in the hammer. She is a 12-time USA National Champion and twice has set USA Olympic Trial records with her championship throws in 2012 and 2016.
At CCU, Amber was a five-time NCAA Division 1 All American, and graduated as the all-time American Collegiate Record Holder.
Coach Connie began his coaching career in 1979 at North Myrtle Beach High School. His boys cross country teams and girls track teams won four South Carolina State Championships, and had three state runner-up finishes in his eight years of coaching at the high school. His girls track and field teams had a combined record of 169 wins, one loss and two ties over eight years.  
In his 28 years as the head women's cross country and track and field coach at CCU, Coach Connie's teams won 28 Big South Conference Championships, and he was named Big South Conference Coach of the Year 33 times in the two sports. He coached 12 All Americans and was named the Big South Conference Coach of the Decade twice in women's cross country for the 1990s and 2000s. He was also named Big South Conference Coach of the Decade for women's indoor track and field for the 2000s and for women's outdoor track and field for the 2000s.  
Amber and Coach Connie have been inducted into the Coastal Carolina University Hall of Fame and the Big South Conference Hall of Fame.

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