GoHeels Exclusive: Selmon Chases Dreams While Leading Others

By Molly Green
Athletic Communications Student Assistant

When Kenny Selmon's impactful four years as a track athlete at the University of North Carolina ended, Selmon found a bigger world to conquer without straying too far from Chapel Hill or the Tar Heels. While pursuing his professional career as a hurdler, Selmon has stayed tied to the Tar Heels by working as an assistant track coach.

Since he first stepped on campus for the 2014-15 season, Selmon has been an integral part of the University of North Carolina's track and field program.

As a student-athlete, Selmon specialized in the 400-meter hurdles and he made his name known -- four-time All-America, four-time NCAA Championships qualifier, three-time ACC champion and UNC record holder. In 2016, after two standout collegiate seasons, Selmon's dreams came true when he found himself lining up against many of the athletes he admired at the 2016 USA Olympic Trials.

"It was the first time I was lined up next to my idols, people I have looked up to since I started running track and field, starting with the hurdles," Selmon said. "I was able to toe the line with them as an equal."

Though training to be a professional athlete has become a full-time job, the new role has also given Selmon newfound freedom.

"I can engage in practice then recover, which is the most important part," Selmon said. "I'm able to recover correctly. Doing all that is hard when you're a student-athlete. Right now, prioritizing track is a lot easier as a professional."

So why does he do it all? Why has Selmon chosen to take on the difficult tasks of learning what it takes to be a coach, finding a new balance with friends and training for international competition all at once?

Prior to his Carolina career, Selmon was coached by Kim Batten who once held the world record for the women's 400-meter hurdles. One of his track and field idols, Batten gave Selmon the foundation that pushed him forward and her influence and inspiration has shaped Selmon's transition to coach. Not only was Batten a major factor in Selmon's hurdling career, but also she continues to influence his life as Selmon looks back on her guidance to understand the power and influence he can have with the Tar Heel team.

While he wants to leave his mark on this year's team, Selmon's aspirations stretch far and wide across his personal, athletic and professional lives.

In athletics, Selmon wants it all. He hopes one day to once again line up with his childhood icons at the U.S. Olympic Trials, but he wants to reach even greater heights – to go to the Olympics and to become a world champion. However, Selmon also sees life beyond the track.

"I want to be the best Kenny that I can be. I think part of Kenny is being a very successful track athlete, but I want this professional athlete title in life to leverage me and build my resume as a person," Selmon says about his aspirations.

Though the Tar Heel team members now has to find success without Selmon running alongside them, the Georgia native will continue to have a meaningful impact on the upcoming season as a volunteer assistant coach. But the transition has been challenging, he admits. In a matter of months, Selmon has gone from being a teammate to coaching his friends.

"It's an interesting dance," Selmon said, "but I have been a captain the last two years and I was always the one talking and always a very vocal leader and a leader by example. The only difference now is I'm just not doing the work out."

Selmon is determined to confront the potential awkwardness head on so he can focus on helping those who admire his accomplishments.

"I don't like when the athletes call me coach," Selmon said. "I just say, 'Call me Kenny.' They know me as Kenny. I tell them that I will be as much as a coach to them as they want me to be. I don't want to tarnish our relationship because of the new position."

As for the newcomers, Selmon's seniority and professional experience give him the wisdom to coach the younger athletes. Perhaps most importantly, Selmon is able to directly relate to the student-athletes because he was in their position just last spring.

"What makes it so easy to coach them is that I know exactly what they're going through. Whether I did it last year on the line with them, or the fact that I did the workout this morning at my professional practice," Selmon remarks.

When he is not helping his former teammates and newcomers reach new heights, Selmon dedicates his time and energy to developing himself into a professional athlete. Without school or other obligations dominating his schedule, Selmon has the opportunity to direct all of his efforts to track.

Selmon hopes his professional athletic career can lead to a business career. He graduated from UNC with a degree from the Kenan Flagler Business School, and during the summer in 2017, he was a commercial leadership intern at Coca-Cola in his hometown of Atlanta, where he worked on creating new initiatives in the digital space. But for now, he says he plans on going with the flow.

"I want this professional life to show me options in the world and different spaces I could work in, whether that is different places in the states or places overseas."

Selmon is forming his legacy as a Tar Heel beyond Chapel Hill and onto a global stage. He has high aspirations both on and off the track, and he knows his time at Carolina has put him in a position to do so. In the midst of a personal and professional transition, Selmon is off and running in the next phase of his life without leaving Carolina behind.

Players Mentioned

Kenny Selmon

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