Five inducted into Newport News Track Hall of Fame

Coach Juan Jackson
Former Head Track Coach, Denbigh High School
2020 Inductee

Juan Jackson coached football and track in the Newport News school system for almost two decades, but found his greatest success as head of the Denbigh boys’ track teams of 2004-2007. Between indoor and outdoor seasons, the Patriots captured six consecutive Peninsula District titles, and won the 2007 Conn-Madden championship. They would finish the outdoor season by scoring a whopping 197 points to win the district championship by 81 points over runner-up Bethel. Denbigh would finish third in the Eastern Region and fourth at the 2007 AAA state meet. Jackson would move on to become the football coach at Princess Anne for two years, before returning to Newport News in 2009 as coach of the Warwick Raiders, a team he led to three playoff appearances in four years.

Coach Jerome Rhodes
Former Assistant Track Coach, Woodside High School
2020 Inductee

Jerome Rhodes has been teaching and coaching for eighteen years. As an assistant track coach for Woodside High School, he helped train four state champions and seven high school All-Americans in events such as the 4X200 meter relay, triple jump, 60-meter dash, and the 400-meter dash. He also helped teams win two indoor and three outdoor district championships. He served as a new teacher mentor and a cooperating teacher, and clinical faculty member all while coaching three seasons: football, indoor track, and outdoor track. In 2015, he was named Woodside’s Teacher of the Year. Coach Rhodes currently serves as the assistant track coach at Warhill High School, where he coaches vaulters, jumpers, and hurdlers. Mr. Rhodes is Warhill’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Terrence Riggins
Virginia AAA State Champion, winning the discus in the spring of 2007
2020 Inductee

Terrence Riggins is the second member of the 2007 Denbigh team to be inducted into the Newport News Track Hall of Fame, joining throwing partner Jaymes Brooks. Like Brooks, Riggins was a Virginia AAA state champion, winning the discus in the spring of 2007 with a throw of 157’-6”. The Patriots scored 18 points in the event and established a team lead, which they held through the middle of the second day. In the same meet, Riggins high jumped 6’-4” to tie for sixth place. He was also a 45-foot triple jumper and threw the shot-put 52 feet and 10 inches. After graduating from Denbigh, Riggins attended the College of William and Mary, where he was the starting fullback for Coach Jimmye Laycock’s Tribe team.

Derrick Robbins, Sr.
Former Athlete, Woodside High School
2021-2022 Inductee

Derrick Robbins, Sr. ran track for both Denbigh High School and Woodside High School. He credits his start in track with being tricked by his older brother to try running in the 8th grade in exchange for a new pair of shoes. After winning the first Cross Country race he entered, he knew he was destined to be a long-distance runner. Mr. Robbins set records during his freshman year, recording the fastest freshman finish in the mile and 800 meters. He also competed nationally as a freshman and won. Mr. Robbins had many offers from various colleges, but attended Virginia Tech, where he earned a degree in sociology.