Bridgewater Alum Returns to ODAC

LEXINGTON, Va. --- Washington and Lee Director of Athletics Jan Hathorn has announced the appointment of Brandon Spalding as head men's cross country and assistant men's track & field coach effective July 1.

"I am excited to offer the position of head coach of men's cross country and assistant coach of men's track and field to Brandon Spalding," said Hathorn.  "His collegiate coaching and running experiences have prepared him well for this position, and I am confident he will continue to uphold the tradition of excellence that we have come to expect of our men who compete in distance running for W&L. His energy, enthusiasm and passion will serve him well as he returns to the ODAC to work with our students and he will be an excellent addition to our staff, the University, and our surrounding community. I look forward to serving beside Brandon for many years to come."

Spalding comes to W&L from Rhodes College, where he served as an assistant men's and women's cross country and assistant men's and women's track & field coach for the last two years.

"I want to thank Jan Hathorn and her search committee for giving me the opportunity to become the next head men's cross country and assistant men's track & field coach at Washington and Lee University," said Spalding.  "I could not be more excited to work for such a great university and I am looking forward to continuing the rich history of W&L Cross Country by leading the men's team this fall."

During his time at Rhodes, Spalding helped coach 10 cross country runners to all-conference accolades, while helping lead the women's cross country team to a second-place finish at the NCAA South/Southeast Region Championship and a berth to the NCAA National Championships in 2011.  He also helped coach both the men's and women's track & field teams to a SAA Outdoor Championship this spring, while mentoring nine all-conference runners and three conference champions.  Spalding has also helped coach his runners to a combined three school records over his two seasons.

Prior to arriving at Rhodes, Spalding served as the head men's and women's cross country coach and assistant track & field coach at Bethany College in West Virginia from 2010-11.  In cross country, he helped coach a woman to the program's highest individual finish in five seasons, while also coaching the first men's all-conference runner in three years.  In two seasons with the track & field programs, he assisted in producing three all-conference runners and two new school records, while also coaching an NCAA Provisional Qualifier in the 800 meters in 2011.

Spalding is a 2009 graduate of Bridgewater College, where he earned a bachelor of science in health and exercise science.  He was a three-year member of the Eagles' cross country and track & field teams after transferring from Virginia Wesleyan following his rookie campaign.  He was a three-time First Team All-ODAC honoree on the cross country course, earning all-region honors three times, including in 2006 when he finished fifth overall at the NCAA South/Southeast Region Championships and qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship meet.  In track & field, he earned Second Team All-ODAC honors four times, doing so in the 5,000 meters and with the distance medley relay team.  He once held the school's 3,000 and 5,000 meter records, along with also once holding a piece of the school's indoor distance medley relay record.

Spalding holds a USA Track & Field Level 1 Coaching Certification and is also certified in First Aid and CPR/AED.  An active competitor, he ran in the 2009 Marine Corps Marathon and the 2011 Boston Marathon.

--- This release is courtesy of the Washington and Lee University sports information department. ---
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