David Price  
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|  |  | **Hometown:**  
Walhalla, S.C.  
  
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**Last College:**  
Western Carolina, 1997  
  
**Position:**  
Pole Vault/Throws  
  
  


David Price begins his fourth season as an assistant track and field coach at East Carolina after serving half of a season as an assistant track and field coach at Gardner-Webb. Price joined the ECU coaching staff in February 2004. 

During his first season, Price was instrumental in assisting six athletes earn All-Conference USA honors. Price also coached a pair of C-USA champions in men's weight and hammer throw. 

During Price's tenure as assistant coach, he has helped ECU athletes set school records in pole vault, hammer throw, weight throw, discus and shot put while helping numerous athletes qualify for the NCAA Regional and National championships. Price also tutored 2005 IC4A Indoor Weight Throw Champion, Eric Frasure during his initial season with the Pirates. Coach Price also helped Frasure earn 2006 NCAA Indoor All-American status in the #35 weight throw and 2006 Outdoor All-American honors in the hammer throw. 

In 2006 Price was nominated and chosen by the United States Olympic Committee and USA Track & Field to participate in the "Emerging Elite Coaches Program" at the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. The Emerging Elite Coaches Program picks four young coaches in each event to work directly with the USATF High Performance Team in finding ways to develop athletes to the medal stand at the Olympic Games and World Championships. 

Price coached two All- Americans (Eric Frasure & Terrance Myers) in the 2007 indoor season. Eric Frasure finished 4th and Terrance Myers 10th at 2007 NCAA Indoor National Championships in the men's 35 pound weight throw. 

In the 2007 outdoor season, Price helped Chelsea Salisbury finish 4th and Terrance Myers finishd 3rd in the hammer throw at the NCAA East Regional Championships. These finishes gave Chelsea and Terrance automatic births to the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships and put them on the 2007 NCAA All-East Region Team. 

Helped Spencer Barrick to an automatic qualifying mark in the men's javelin for the USATF Junior National Championships. 

A native of Walhalla, S.C., Price spent four years as assistant coach at his alma mater, Western Carolina University, where he helped the Catamounts win back-to-back Southern Conference Championships in 2000 and 2001. 

Under Price's guidance, high jumper Virginia LaCombe earned All-America honors at WCU in 2002. WCU pole vaulter Michelle Velez also received national recognition after working out with Price as she set the Puerto Rican national record with a vault of 13-feet. 

Several members of the WCU track and field team participated in the NCAA, U.S., and Junior Indoor and Outdoor National Championships in the women's high jump and pole vault during Price's five-year coaching stay in Cullowhee. 

He was also part of a Southern Conference Championship team in 1998 at East Tennessee State, where he completed a graduate assistantship and received a master's degree in exercise and sport science. 

The 34-year-old Price is married to the former Eva Valerie Jalajas, who is also a WCU graduate and standout pole vaulter, who competed for the 2000 NCAA and USA Indoor Championships. In 2006, David and Eva were blessed by the birth of their daughter Lilyanna Avery. 

Price is certified with USA Track & Field Level I and II Coaches Certifications, which includes training in throwing disciplines. He also serves as clinician for the N.C. High School Track Coaches Association in pole vault and high jump events.