Reynaud Alexander has dedicated his life to teaching young black women to run fast. So, it should come as no surprise that Alexander, a 72-year-old retired track and field coach, refuses to slow down.

He plans to attend the Southwestern Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium this weekend, and he surely wont resist the temptation to impart a bit of coaching wisdom on the competitors.

I tell my athletes that the key to success is about balancing intensity and volume, said Alexander, who was born and reared in New Orleans. You dont want to burn out too early.

And judging by a lifetime of accomplishments as a coach, teacher and civil rights activist, Alexander has maintained a strict adherence to this credo.

He is an exceptionally giving person, and he cares about everybody, said his wife, Loretta Alexander. I have to fight for time because he is always so giving of himself to everyone else.

Alexander has been coaching for more than 50 years and said he routinely receives calls from parents wanting him to mentor their daughters. He ran track at Southern, served as head coach at McDonogh High School from 1980 to 1991 and as an assistant coach at Mississippi State from 1991 to 2002 before retiring.

During the past year, Alexander has stepped away from his role as volunteer coach at Higgins High School and New Era (AAU) Track and Field Club, focusing instead on his family. He now bides his time coaching grandsons Donovan Carraby, 11, and Niles Cosey, 8.

Hes always so busy, said Carraby, an aspiring baseball star. It means a lot to me that my grandfather can help me with my speed.

Glynn Alexander, who was a defensive back at Grambling State and with the Buffalo Bills, said coaching is in his older brothers DNA.

Its in his nature, Glynn Alexander said. Hes always been involved in coaching.

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Trailblazer Reynaud Alexander has a legacy in local track & field