You know those moments when everything seems perfect on the surface, but behind the scenes, something’s just not right? That’s exactly what happened with Mechelle Lewis Freeman. She was USA Track & Field’s head women’s relays coach since 2022, the woman who built America’s powerhouse women’s relay teams. She’s been the mastermind behind those smooth baton passes, those gold medals, and the absolute relay domination we’ve seen at World Championships and Olympics, especially in 2024. So when she suddenly announced her resignation just months before the 2025 World Championships, everyone was left asking: Why now? Why walk away when the stakes are this high?

Freeman wasn’t just any coach. She was the strategist, working closely with stars like Sha’Carri Richardson, putting athletes in the perfect spots to win. She knew what made a relay team tick, from last-second lineup changes to flawless baton handoffs. And she didn’t keep her impact quiet. She once said, “When you’re thinking about making a successful 4×100 relay team, you’re thinking about placing athletes in positions where they’ll thrive and where they’ll perform best.” That’s the precision she brought to every race.

After dropping the resignation news, Freeman took to X to say goodbye, but her message wasn’t just about stepping down. It was full of gratitude and strength: “My time as the USATF Head Women’s Relays Coach has come to an end…To the athletes, keep making history and much love. ❤️” She left no doubt about her love for the sport or her team, but something else was going on behind the scenes. Because she didn’t reveal the exact reason! And now, four months later, Freeman has finally pulled back the curtain on what really pushed her out of the relay team in track and field.

It boils down to one harsh truth: disrespect. “Here we are: The DISRESPECT I had to deal with behind closed doors is finally being spoken out loud,” she shared on X. She didn’t hold back, posting a video featuring Coach Holloway explaining the real problem: “We need to hire people that understand the sport. You know, I think it’s Mike or Michelle, but Mike or Michelle aren’t coaches. They weren’t coaches, right? So you can’t coach your relay when that’s not your job, right?” Imagine winning gold medals back to back to back and still having people question if you’re “aren’t a coach.” That’s the disrespect Freeman faced, and it’s why she might choose to step away.

Now, with the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo just 3 months away, the big question is: Who will step up and lead Team USA’s women’s track and field relay squad? Well, it looks like another legend has stepped up to carry the baton. So, who’s taking charge this time?

Track and field eyes gold as USATF turns to another legend for relay success

When Mechelle Lewis Freeman stepped away from her role amid controversy and quiet frustration, the question was immediate: Who’s going to carry the baton next? Now, we have the answer. Darryl Woodson has officially been named Team USATF track and field Relay Coach for all international squads, stepping into the spotlight at a critical moment. This isn’t just a shuffle in titles, it’s a strategic move aimed squarely at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The goal? Nothing less than complete relay domination.

“USATF has an ambitious target of five gold medals in the relay events at LA28. Anything less would be selling our athletes, coaches, and country short,” said Robert Chapman, USATF’s Chief of High Performance Operations. That’s a bold standard, but if anyone’s up for the job, it’s Woodson. He’s no rookie. Woodson’s been part of six national team coaching staffs, worked with world record holders, and helped guide Team USA to over 30 global medals. He was behind the scenes in both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, where his athletes showed up and showed out. Most recently, he led the charge at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, where Team USA struck gold in both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays.

Under USATF’s newly restructured High Performance system, Woodson will report directly to Wallace Spearmon Jr. and Michael Nussa, who are overseeing International Teams and Performance. This is more than just a coaching change, it’s a full-court press toward global excellence. With Woodson now officially taking the lead in track and field, the countdown to LA28 just got a whole lot more serious. But can he easily replace what Mechelle Lewis Freeman achieved?

The clock is ticking, and the pressure is on USATF to get this right if America wants to keep dominating on the world stage.