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Usain Bolt’s coach Glen Mills retired as Jamaica’s head coach.

Glen Mills, coach of triple Olympic and World Championship gold medalist Usain Bolt and president of the Racers Track Club, has retired from his post as national senior head coach, ending a 22-year reign.

“I feel that after being head coach for every World Championship, and every Olympic Games since 1988, that’s a good run, and the crowning glory in Beijing… it’s good to quit while you’re ahead,” Mills told the Observer in an exclusive interview on Monday.

Last year Mills received Jamaica’s fifth highest national award, the Order of Distinction (OD) in the rank of Commander Class for his service to track and field.

“I leave the scene with performances being the highest they have ever been in the history of Jamaica’s track and field, so one wonders if it isn’t a paradox that these controversies resulted in tremendous successes,” Mills joked.

He, however, noted that, “Certainly, it’s not the kind of atmosphere you’d like, but I’m glad that I was able to serve Jamaica in the way that I’ve done and to help in developing the sport that I love so dearly, and it’s time for me to say good-bye to national representation,” he added.

Under Mills’ stewardship between 1987 and 2009, Jamaica captured 71 medals at the World Championships and amassed 33 medals at the Olympics.

Mills said he had decided to quit as head coach from as far back as the year 2000 after the Sydney Olympic Games. Ne continued, “Based on the fact that I’m not getting younger and the stress and demands of the job require a younger person to take up the mantle… it’s a good time to leave while at the top,” said the NACAC Coach-of-the-Year.

Mills plans to stop working with the national team so he can focus on coaching the club team which boasts Olympic triple gold medallist Usain Bolt, according to a report by the Jamaica Observer.

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