James Croft Added to Track and Field/Cross Country Coaching Staff
9/30/2019 2:23:00 PM | Cross Country, Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
KENT, Ohio — Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Bill Lawson has announced the addition of James Croft to the Kent State coaching staff. Croft, who spent four years on staff at the University of Texas, will be the head coach for the Golden Flashes cross country teams and train mid-distance/distance student-athletes in the track and field program.
"We're very happy to have James Croft as our head cross country and distance coach," Lawson stated. "In addition to bringing some great experience at a high level after being a four-year coach at the University of Texas, James is going to provide cultural change for our distance program. I've already seen it through his first 72 hours on the job."
Croft played a key role in the recruitment and training of distance student-athletes during his time at Texas. The Longhorns qualified for six NCAA Cross Country Championships and won 10 Big 12 Track and Field Championship titles while he was on staff. Croft helped mentor eight All-Americans, 12 NCAA Championship Final qualifiers and 40 NCAA West Preliminary qualifiers during his four seasons in Austin.
"I want to thank Joel Nielsen and Bill Lawson for the opportunity to be a part of this program," Croft said. "Coach Lawson is one of the most well-respected coaches in our sport, and I am excited to work and continue to learn under his leadership. The plan he has laid out, not only for the cross country team, but for the whole track and field program was what interested me in joining this staff. I am excited to get to work and help the teams reach their potential in the MAC and NCAA."
A native of Central Point, Oregon, Croft received a bachelor's degree in biology from Western Oregon in 2014.
