PHIL ROBERTS (email: proberts@tusculum.edu)
Head Cross Country Coach
Phil Roberts has directed the Tusculum College cross country program for
the last two seasons.
Roberts, a 1986 graduate of Western Carolina University, has coached at both the high school and collegiate level.
In his two years at Tusculum, he has mentored three runners to South Atlantic Conference cross country honors, including 2006 SAC Freshman Female Runner of the Year Alex Frary.
Prior to joining the Pioneer
staff in 2005, he coached locally at Greeneville High School.
He guided the Greene Devils to a fourth place finish in the IMAC. His GHS harriers won the Tusculum Invitational
High School meet while two of his runners, Ben Wills and Lauren Anderson, garnered
All-IMAC recognition.
Roberts served as the assistant
cross country and track coach at his alma mater from 1986-91.
During his coaching tenure at WCU, the Catamounts boasted several All-Southern
Conference honorees including All-Americans Tony McKinney and Richard Rowe.
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The
Roberts' Family
Ketura, Kris, Micah, Phil, Josiah & Simeon. |
During his collegiate running
career, Roberts was a three-time All-Southern Conference cross country runner
(1983, 1984, 1985) while also lettering in indoor and outdoor track. In 1985, he was the Southern Conference Steeplechase
Champion and also claimed the SoCon title in the indoor 1500 meters in 1986.
He is still the holder of eight school records at WCU.
His 8K time of 24:17 at the Citadel Invitational in 1985 is still the
best in Catamount history. He also holds
the second best 10K time at WCU running the 1983 Appalachian State Invitational
in 31:11.
Roberts' indoor records include
the 3,000 meters (8:19.59), two miles (8:59.00), three miles (13:50.80) and
the 2000 meter steeple. He is also the
holder of three outdoor records including the 5,000 meters (14:30.24) and the
10,000 meters (30:10.84).
The Charlotte, N.C. native continues
to be an avid runner himself. He has
run over 130,000 miles in his lifetime.
Roberts is married to the former
Kris Staskunas of Milwaukee, Wis. and they are the parents of three sons (Josiah,
13, Simeon, 11, Michah 9) and one daughter (Ketura, 7).