HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Danny Williamson, head cross country and track and field coach at Lenoir-Rhyne University since 2017-18, is leaving the Bears to take the same positions at UNC Asheville.
Williamson LRU’s women to a South Atlantic Conference (SAC) title, the school’s first in women’s track and field, and he was named the SAC’s Coach of the Year and a Regional Coach of the Year.
WILLIAMSON
“This is an opportunity for me to get closer to my family and spend more time with them,” Williamson said in an LRU press release announcing he is leaving. “I am so appreciative of my time at Lenoir-Rhyne and I think we laid the foundation for success for years to come.
“I can say that these past two years have been very rewarding and I am thankful for all the support from the administration.”
During his stint as head vcoach, Williamson helped P.J. Lotharp to back-to-back All-American accolades in Indoor Track and Field as well as qualifying for Nationals in Outdoor in May.
Williamson also led the 400 relay team to a national appearance and helped build the roster to the largest in the SAC. In his first year, Williamson’s track squad broke over 80 individual records and followed that with 60 broken records last season.
Williamson coached Domtila Kiplagat to SAC Runner of the Year honors in Cross Country and a spot at the NCAA National Meet in December, where she placed in the top third of all NCAA Division II runners.
“We want to thank Coach Williamson for all he did at Lenoir-Rhyne,” LRU Athletic Director Kim Pate said in the release. “Danny took our cross country and track programs to new levels and his teams broke multiple records along the way.
“We wish him the best in his future and appreciate his effort in building successful programs.”