June 18, 2010
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LAURINBURG, N.C.—Glenn Batten, Director of Athletics at St. Andrews Presbyterian College, has announced Micheal Coggins as the Knights new men’s and women’s cross country coach on Friday.
“I am more than pleased to have Mike Coggins as our new cross country coach,” said Batten. “His talent and experience made him very attractive. I am positive he will be able to continue our excellent tradition of cross country coaches at St. Andrews as Jim Walters’ transitions over to our athletic administration.”
Coggins joins the St. Andrews athletics department after spending three seasons as the head women’s cross country coach at Conference Carolinas rival Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C. In his last season at Converse, Coggins led the Valkyries to a runner-up finish in the Conference Carolinas Championships and a sixth place result in the 2009 NCAA Southeast Regional.
The Greenville, S.C., native will be taking over a cross country program at St. Andrews that has experienced much success in recent years. SAPC had individual qualifiers for the NCAA Division II National Championships for both the men’s and women’s squads as recently as 2008. The SAPC men’s team has captured two league titles (2005 & 2008) and one Southeast Region crown (2006) in the past decade. Both Knights teams earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors in 2009.
"I am very proud to be joining the St. Andrews staff,” said Coggins. “It will be exciting to continue building on Coach Walters’ success in cross country. St. Andrews has a great sense of tradition and a strong will to compete well in athletics."
In his time at Converse, Coggins maintained a roster of 12-plus student-athletes with a 95-percent retention rate. The Valkyries also won two regular season titles under the direction of Coggins.
Coggins had an impressive collegiate running career at his alma mater, North Greenville University. Coggins was a four-year letter winner for the Crusaders that included Rookie of the Year honors in 2003, Most Valuable Runner award in 2006, and team captain in his senior season.
The USTCCCA (United States Track and Cross Country Coaches Association) and USATF (United States of America Track & Field) member also has experience as a sports information director and will assist in the SID office at St. Andrews. Coggins graduated from North Greenville with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 2007.
