Jeanette Bolden (born January 26, 1960) is an American
Olympicathlete who formerly competed in the 100 metres. She was the head coach of the
track and field team at the
University of Central Florida.[1] She is the co-owner of the 27th Street Bakery in Los Angeles, which is best known for the sweet potato, pecan and sweet potato pecan pies.
Bolden has suffered from
asthma throughout her life. Her athletic career came to a sudden end at the 1988
Olympic Trials when she ruptured her
Achilles tendon just moments after teammate
Florence Griffith Joyner set the still standing World Record in the 100 metres.[2] It was one of the most heartbreaking memories for her coach
Bob Kersee.
Unable to run with the same intensity as before, she applied her efforts to coaching, initially as an assistant coach at
UCLA under Kersee.[5] Between 1994 and 2012, Coach Bolden developed over 50
UCLANCAA All-Americans in the sprints, hurdles and relays.[6]
Head coach
Bolden was the head track and field coach for
UCF after a successful tenure with
UCLA's women's program.[7] She retired at the end 2017. In 2008, she served as the United States Olympic women's head coach.[8]