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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Banton

Elmore Banton

Elmore "Mo" Banton, an Ohio legend in the realm of cross country and track & field, serves as the Distance coach for the John Carroll men and women's track & field teams.  

In addition to his track & field assignment, Banton also assists head coach Dara Ford with the cross country teams at JCU.

Now in his ninth season at John Carroll, “Mo” brings instant credibility to the Blue Streak programs, as he was the highly successful head coach of the cross country and track & field programs at Ohio University for 23 years. During his tenure at OU, he collected 20 Coach of the Year awards, including nine Mid-American Conference and eight All-Ohio. Banton guided the Bobcats to 10 MAC titles, 14 All-Ohio championships, and six Central Collegiate crowns in his 23 seasons at the helm.
 
When hired in 1980, Banton was the first African-American head coach of any intercollegiate sport at Ohio.
 
As a competitor for Ohio University, Banton made history when he captured the NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country championship in 1964. Not only was he the second Ohio student-athlete to earn national medalist honors, but he was also the first African-American to win the national title.

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