Hayden Hartigan is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Desert Edge for AZPreps365.com

Desert Edge head coach Sharod Selph, a former NCAA All-American sprinter at Oklahoma State, has a deeper purpose for coaching track and field in his second season leading the Scorpions. 

Selph started running track his senior year of high school and was a star in his lone season campaign at Weequahic High School in Newark, New Jersey. He set the 55-meter dash record at 6.64 seconds.

It is still the program record, 14 years later. 

“I fell in love with it because there was a coach who believed in me … not everyone can be a state champion, but you can win a heat,” Selph said. “And that can mean a lot for a kid. That's why I coach.”

Selph then competed for Iowa Western Community College, leading the team to a fourth-place finish in the NJCAA Division I Championship 4x100-meter relay at 40.21 seconds. After two seasons, he transferred to Oklahoma State University. 

At Oklahoma State University, Selph’s 4x100-meter relay team still holds the record at 39.64 seconds, set when he led off the team in the 2015 NCAA Division I West Region Championship. This finish earned him All-American honors for the 2015 season. Among Selph’s track teammates were eight-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Tyreek Hill, Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill, and Under Armour professional sprinter John Teeters, who holds the Cowboys’ 100-meter dash record. 

After a decorated collegiate career, Selph has quickly elevated the Desert Edge track and field program – three years as a sprints coach and 2026 being his second year as the head coach. Under Selph’s leadership, the Scorpions’ star-studded roster has featured Arizona’s No. 1 ranked ‘25 and ‘26 football recruits, Jamar Beal-Goines and Camren Hamiel, who will both play cornerback at Texas A&M; 2025 boys 110- and 300-meter hurdles AIA State Champion Bellemy Amina-Harris; and ‘27 4-star wide receiver Zerek Sidney and quarterback Blake Roskopf, according to 247sports and Scholar Champion Athlete recruiting databases. 

Desert Edge football head coach Henri MacArthur, who led the Scorpions to a 2025 5A State Championship, has seen big improvements in his football players who compete in track and field during the spring with Selph. 

“Sharod and I have been working hand-in-hand for a few years now… and he’s done a great job, not just with the track only athletes, but with the football players helping them get faster,” MacArthur said. “They have posted some really impressive times.”

In total, the Desert Edge track and field team has rostered at least seven 4-star recruits, and two 3-star recruits under Selph’s leadership in two seasons. DEHS athletes use coaching from Selph to increase their speed for either football or track at the Division I level, such as senior defensive back and track star Antonio Para, who signed to Southern Utah University for 2027. 

“He definitely played to one of my biggest strengths, which is my speed,” Para said. “I’ve been able to improve my speed even further, which is doubling down on your strengths, so it’s definitely improved my overall film and explosiveness you can see watching my film.”

Sharod Selph explains a drill to sprinter Antonio Para during practice on March 6 in Goodyear. (Hayden Hartigan photo/AZPreps365)

While these talented athletes are the spotlight of Desert Edge’s program, Selph’s deeper purpose in coaching is grounded in his personal influence and the impact he can make on the people he coaches. Selph received this impact firsthand as a high schooler with coach Zahir Kycied being by his side.

“My high school track coach is still a mentor to me today, he helped me become a man," Selph said. “With my kids, I want to be that same figure for them. Even if it’s a personal matter that they’re going through, I want to be that person to talk to.”

Athletes competing at the Division I level are under immense pressure to perform while balancing their schoolwork, training for their sport, and setting themselves up for success after college. Selph uses experiences to teach lessons about discipline and prepare his athletes for difficult situations in life. 

“I am pretty hard on my athletes because once they turn 18, life gets hard,” Selph said. “It gets a lot harder than track and if we can’t be disciplined on the track, how are we going to be disciplined as people?”

After one of his sprinters competing in the 4x100-meter relay started the race early, disqualifying the team at an early season meet, Selph took the opportunity to teach a valuable lesson that will last a lifetime. 

“I essentially told him… we came out here to represent our school, represent our families, represent our teammates, and we dropped the ball today,” Selph said. “In a couple days we have another shot, let's do what we have to do.” 

Freshman sprinter Harlem Paschel said she has gratitude for what Selph has done for her. 

“I’m very grateful for our coaches who believe in us and give us motivation,” Paschel said. “Anything [coach Selph] sees that we’re not doing right, he pushes us to correct it and be the best we can as a team.”

Sharod Selph analyzes his athlete's technique in a drill during practice on March 6 in Goodyear. (Hayden Hartigan photo/AZPreps365)

Desert Edge started its 2026 track and field season in late February and nearly broke multiple school records on the girls’ side in the Thunder Invitational on February 27. Selph said he has been impressed by his team's performance thus far, but mentioned they still have a lot of work to do. 

The Scorpions competed in the Rattler Booster on March 7 at North Canyon High School, and will compete in the Red Mountain Rampage on March 12-13 at Red Mountain High School.