PHIL ROBERTS NAMED
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GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Phil Roberts has been
named head coach of the Tusculum College cross country program, announced
TC Director of Athletics Ed Hoffmeyer. Roberts replaces Dr. Jim Fields, who stepped down after coaching the Pioneers for the
past five seasons.
Roberts, a 1986 graduate of Western Carolina University,
has coached at both the high school and collegiate level. He joins the Pioneer staff after coaching last
season 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.
"Jim Fields did a great job of putting our cross
country program on solid footing," said Hoffmeyer. "In a new coach, we're looking to build
upon that foundation and take both the men and women to a new level."
"Phil brings a personal love of running,"
added Hoffmeyer. "He has the ability
to instill that same love in those he is working with. His knowledge of the sport, his ability to communicate
that knowledge to his team and his desire to make Tusculum's program successful
should serve him well."
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.
"I'm honored to be granted this opportunity and
I hope to build a championship program," said Roberts. "I'm not looking to just field a team,
but for us to have a competitive team. Once
you have the talent in place, running is 90 percent mental."
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), 10,000 meters (30:10.84) and the distance medley (10:12.80).
The Charlotte, N.C. native continues to be an avid runner
himself. He recently competed in his
1,000th race and has run over 127,000 miles in his lifetime.
Roberts is married to the former Kris Staskunas of Milwaukee, Wis. and they are the parents of three
sons (Josiah, 11, Simeon, 9, Michah 7) and one daughter (Ketura,
5).
- TC -