University Liggett School hires four varsity head coaches

Coaches hired for football, cross country, track & field and field hockey

We are excited to announce the ULS athletics department has hired four new coaches who together bring more than 30 years of coaching experience to the Knights.

Athletic Director Alan Parish said he is enthused by the level of experience each of the coaches will bring to the ULS athletics program.

Tarif Kumasi will take over as the varsity football coach. Kumasi has been coaching high school football for 20 years, including a long-run head coach at Cesar Chavez Academy in Detroit. Kumasi is a Grosse Pointe Park resident.

"After a thorough decision process, we are excited that Tarif will be joining our coaching staff," Parish said. "Tarif is an exciting, dynamic, and offensively creative coach."

Melvin Moss is the new head coach for track and field, and he will serve as the football defensive coordinator. Moss, a certified strength and conditioning coach, began working with our track and field athletes in the Boll Campus Center weight room in February — before the season was cut short. Moss is the president of a Detroit non-profit and has more than a decade of experience in NFL player development.

“It is exciting to have Melvin continue to work with us after getting the track & field team off to a great start. He has a lot to add to our football program, and I am glad to have him to continue to build relationships with students he got to know in February and March,” Parish said.

Joe Smith will be the head coach for cross country and also serves as our distance running coach in track and field. Smith previously was the cross country head coach and assistant track coach at Lamphere High School for three years. He is a Grosse Pointe Park resident and has been guiding our distance runners remotely with their training during this pandemic.

"I am very eager to officially begin work as the head coach for the cross country program, and I'm excited to work with Melvin during the track and field season," Smith said. "I am enthusiastic about the future of the distance running programs at ULS, and I've enjoyed working virtually with the athletes this spring."

Amanda Amine, who has been assisting with our field hockey program for the past two years, has taken over the helm as head coach for the varsity team. Long-time coach and field hockey ambassador Jayant Trewn will continue to be involved as her assistant and with the junior varsity team.

"Amanda has been a wonderful member of the ULS coaching community, and we look forward to her taking on the head coaching role for the field hockey program. Amanda and Jayant work together as a great team," Parish said.

Athletic Director Alan Parish can be reached at aparish@uls.org for more information.