The Long Beach track and field world lost one of its most beloved and respected coaches two weeks ago with the passing of Chucky Hampton following an illness.
Hampton, a 1994 alum of Long Beach Poly, was a jumps coach who mentored and coached many of the city’s best and brightest athletes over the last two decades. No matter what school an athlete went to, Hampton loved working with Long Beach kids, whether as a club coach at the youth level, or with the city’s best high school leapers.
Poly coach Crystal Irving paid tribute to Hampton, who passed away shortly the Poly boys won a CIF-SS title, and Wilson won the girls’ title (with Poly in second).
“I went to visit him and took the CIF trophy to share the good news and pray and love on him,” she said. “Yesterday morning, God said it is time to go home with him. Your job here is done. I don’t know how we got through the season or even the day, just had to keep pushing for the kids.”
Irving remembered Hampton’s ability to look at an athlete and imagine a brilliant future for them based on their physical gifts.
“Just an amazing coach to youth and college athletes, he managed to bring out the best in each one he coached,” she said.
Hampton competed for Poly in high school, then at LBCC where he was the MVP in 1997. A two-time Moore League long jump champ, he was the recipient of the Mark Carrier Award and Leon Foreman Award at Poly. An assistant coach with Poly, Wilson, Cabrillo and many other schools through the years, Hampton had been on the staff at Cerritos College for the last two decades, coaching eight individual state champions as well as 27 SoCal and conference champs.
Hampton’s coaching legacy was felt up in Clovis at last weekend’s CIF State Finals, where one of his many mentees, Loren Webster, brought home a long jump state title for Wilson just days after his passing.
Known for a personality as bright as his coaching acumen, Hampton’s many athletes flooded social media with tributes to Hampton and his impact on their lives.
“Words can’t express the gratitude that I have for Coach Chucky, rest easy,” wrote Poly alum and UCLA long jumper Jade McDonald.
Poly alum and Texas A&M All-American Zhane Smith is now a pro jumper. She wrote, “You made such an impact on so many lives, especially mine. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. Really the only person who still believed in me till this day. I promise to finish the job we started together.”
A strong testimony came from Poly alum Ariana Washington, a high school and college All-American, champion, and Olympian.
“My first coach–you always gave me everything you had and pushed me to do the same in everything I ever did. Your voice in my head got me through many workouts even in college. I’ll never forget any of our conversations and many moments when I needed a kick in the ass or a reminder of who I was. I felt so proud coming home after Rio to see you at the jumps pit…
“I’ll never understand what you and your mom saw in me as a little 8th grader at a middle school track meet that I ran in with not a lick of practice–you told my mom you’d guarantee I would go to college for free if I joined the Long Beach Sprinters. You were right, like you always were about many things. You were a genius.
“I will forever remember you for all that you are: unapologetic, loud, motivating, and selfless. LOVE YOU FOREVER + REST IN HEAVEN COACH CHUCKY.”
Service info is pending and will be posted when available.
