Bio

Entering his 14th season as head coach of the Meridian Community College men's and women's track & field and cross country programs, Chip Gayden has established the Eagles as one of the premier programs in the NJCAA. With nearly two decades of coaching experience spanning the NCAA, NJCAA, and high school levels, Gayden has built a reputation for developing championship athletes both on and off the track.

Since arriving at MCC, Gayden has coached student-athletes to more than 180 All-America honors, 16 individual national championships, and 17 national runner-up finishes. His athletes have broken more than 40 school records and one NJCAA national record while producing over 20 performances that rank among the top 10 in NJCAA history. Under his leadership, MCC has recorded 21 top-25 team finishes at the NJCAA National Championships, including a fourth-place finish by the men's indoor team in 2018.

During the 2025 season, Gayden guided the Eagles to a ninth-place finish at the NJCAA Indoor National Championships and a 13th-place finish at the Outdoor National Championships. He coached Tafadzwa Chikomba to one of the most dominant seasons in NJCAA history, as Chikomba captured both the indoor and outdoor national championships in the men's long jump. Following his time at MCC, Chikomba continued his success at Kansas State University, winning the NCAA Division I National Championship in the men's long jump.

Gayden has coached numerous nationally recognized athletes during his tenure, including NJCAA National Athlete of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipients, while helping more than 80 student-athletes continue their academic and athletic careers at four-year institutions, including over 60 NCAA programs.

Before arriving at MCC, Gayden coached at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), Iowa Central Community College, and the University of Memphis.

At the University of Memphis, Gayden coached sprinters for both the men's and women's programs, helping guide the school's first women's 4x400-meter relay team to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He coached three All-Americans and assisted athletes in setting six school records.

At Iowa Central Community College, Gayden served as assistant track & field and cross country coach while helping lead the men's and women's half-marathon teams and the women's cross country team to NJCAA national championships in 2012. He also served as the program's recruiting coordinator.

While at Ole Miss, Gayden coached sprinters under legendary head coach Joe Walker Jr. and helped Isiah Young qualify for the 2012 United States Olympic Team in the 200 meters. He also coached multiple NCAA Championship qualifiers, NCAA Regional qualifiers, and SEC scorers while assisting in the development of Olympic gold medalist Brittney Reese.

Gayden began his coaching career at his alma mater, Christian Brothers High School, where he coached sprinters and hurdlers and helped lead the program to the 2010 state championship.

Gayden is USATF Level I certified and holds a USATF Level II certification in sprints, hurdles, and relays.

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Gayden earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Mississippi. He and his wife, Ashley, have one daughter, Caroline.