Women's Cross Country Coaching Staff

Gary Aycock assumed the role of head coach for the St. Andrews men’s and women’s cross country programs in 2002. Aycock was also named the head coach of the newly established Track & Field teams in 2005.

Aycock, a Scotland County native, served as the Knights’ assistant coach in 2001-02 and spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons as an assistant for the boys’ cross country program at Scotland High School.

Aycock’s impact on the programs can already be felt as he led both XC teams to the NCAA D-II Regionals in each of the past two seasons.

Last year, Aycock guided the Knights men’s cross country team to their most successful season in the programs NCAA Division II era. The men won the 2005 CVAC Men’s Championships and advanced to the NCAA National Championship in California for the first time. The Knights won four of seven races entered in 2005 and were ranked second in the region.

The 2005 CVAC men’s coach of the year mentored six All-CVAC runners, four All-Southeast Region selections, and the CVAC Freshman of the Year. On the women’s side, Aycock coached a four-time CVAC Runner of the Week and once again coach a harrier’s team that was named All-Academic.

In 2004 Aycock coached three Academic All-Americans, three All-CVAC runners, two All-Southeast Region Team members, and the men’s CVAC Freshman of the Year. The men’s team was ranked as high as second in the Southeast Region. The Knights won three races in 2004 and the women’s team was an Academic All-American Team (ranked fourth nationally). The men’s team finished runner-ups in the 2005 CVAC Cross Country Championships.

In 2003 Aycock instructed three CVAC All-Conference runners, two Academic All-Americans and one All-Region runner. The 2003 women’s cross-country squad was also recognized as an Academic All-American team.

An avid runner, Aycock has racing experience on the high school, collegiate, and open levels and is a tri-athlete as well. He was a member of Scotland’s 1989 and 1990 State NCHSAA Track and Field Championship teams and East Carolina University’s 1995 UPA College National Championship Ultimate Frisbee team where he was a candidate for the Callahan Award, an honor presented to the UPA National Collegiate Player of the Year.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Aycock earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education and is currently completing a master’s degree in physical education from UNCP. He completed the NIKE cross-country coaches’ clinic in 2002 and is a certified United States Track & Field Level I coach in all event areas and a certified United States Track & Field Level II Endurance Coach.

Aycock resides in Laurinburg with his wife, Emily, and two children, Emma Grace and Aaron Douglas.

Jim Walters enters his fifth season as the men’s and women’s cross country coach, having joined Coach Aycock and the Knights in 2002.

In his fourth season with the Knights, Walters helped guide the St. Andrews men’s team to their first CVAC Championship and their first NCAA National Championship appearance. Walters helped coach six All-CVAC runners and four All-Southeast Region selections. For the second straight year, Walters has also coached the CVAC Freshman of the Year.

In 2005 Walters also started serving as an assistant with the newly established Track & Field program at St. Andrews.

Walters, another Scotland County native, is a lifelong runner. His running and racing experience extends to various open levels, including half-marathons, marathons, and adventure races. Walters is a certified Level I United States Track & Field coach in all event areas and is a certified Level II USATF coach specializing in all throwing events.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Walters has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and a Master of Arts degree in Exercise Science. Aside from his coaching duties, Walters is a visiting faculty member in the sports studies department.

Walters and his wife, Lynn, reside in Laurinburg.