
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University has named Alaric Gwynn as its new head cross country coach according to Josh Ealy, Vice President of Athletics.
Gwynn will be at the helm of the TU men's and women's cross country program and will also coach the distance runners with the Pioneer track & field teams.
Gwynn comes to Greeneville from NCAA Division I Elon University where he served on the cross country / track & field coaching staffs for the past five seasons.
While at Elon, Gwynn helped the Phoenix reach unprecedented heights as the women's cross country team reeled off five straight Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championships. The women's middle and long distance runners helped Elon to four straight CAA track & field titles.
"We are very excited to have Alaric join the Tusculum family as our head cross country coach," said Ealy. "He comes from a very successful program at Elon where they had a winning tradition in developing outstanding distance runners but also solid student-athletes."
The Elon women claimed three straight CAA individual crowns during Gwynn's tenure with wins by Scolasticah Kemei (2019) and Maria Ahm (2020 & 2021). From 2019-2023, Elon's women's teams claimed an amazing 15 meet team titles.
The Elon men ran to school record team finishes in the NCAA Southeast Region Cross Country Championship and finished third at the CAA Championship three times (2019, 2020, 2021).
Overall, he mentored 24 female All-CAA performers while eight male runners garnered All-Conference distinction.
"I am grateful to (President) Dr. Scott Hummel and Josh Ealy for trusting my knowledge and experience to lead the Pioneer cross country program," said Gwynn. "From my first visit to campus I was drawn to the welcoming atmosphere of Tusculum and Josh's vision for the future. I look forward to coaching in the competitive South Atlantic Conference."
Prior to Elon, he served six years as cross country and distance coach at Hillcrest High School in Simpsonville, South Carolina. While at Hillcrest, he was named region cross country coach of the year on two occasions, as his runners established 10 school records including the Hillcrest girls' 4x800-meter relay team which won the South Carolina state championship with a record time. Hillcrest girls' and boys' cross country programs qualified for state championship after over a decade of not contending. Hillcrest ladies track and field won multiple individual and team state titles.
"With attention to detail and motivational skills, I will challenge our student-athletes to establish goals that I can help them achieve while becoming educated, well-rounded individuals," Gwynn added.
Prior to Hillcrest, he privately coached adult and high school athletes in distance running and swimming in South Carolina. He is an avid advocate of Autism Awareness.
Gwynn, a native of Ruffin, North Carolina, is a 2008 graduate of Greensboro College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English and communications.