CNU Grad and Former Assistant Returns Following Successful Division I Career
NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Christopher Newport University Athletic Director C.J. Woollum announced today the hiring of RON GARNER as the school\'s new track and field head coach. Garner, a native of Newport News , will take over the program from Vince Brown, who is retiring following an illustrious 25-year career guiding the Captains and Lady Captains. Brown\'s CNU career included 12 national championships.
"Although we lived in denial, we knew the day would come when Vince Brown would retire," Woollum said. "Once that reality set in, many of us thought there was an ideal choice to be his replacement. We are very fortunate to have Ron Garner as our new track coach. Ron\'s credentials speak for themselves, and it is a great coup for CNU to have him join our family."
Garner\'s coaching career has included stops at four schools, where he has helped produce 58 conference champions and 66 All-Americas. Most recently, Garner spent the last year as an assistant at James Madison University in Harrisonburg .
Garner, a 1982 graduate of Christopher Newport, was a track athlete at CNU as a student. He then began his coaching career as an assistant track and field coach at Christopher Newport from 1982-86. While on staff at CNU, he coached the NCAA Division III champion as well as national record holder in the shot put.
"I\'m very proud that Ron Garner is returning to CNU," Vince Brown said. "He was a fine athlete and assistant coach at Christopher Newport and his many successes elsewhere will prove to be valuable to the CNU program. I hope he coaches here for the next 25 years."
In 1986, Garner left CNU to join the track staff at Clemson, where he established and coached the first women\'s track and field team in school history.
Garner left Clemson in 1991 to join the staff at the University of Illinois , where he was named recruiting coordinator and assistant track coach. His squads, over almost seven years at Illinois , won six Big Ten Conference titles making it the most successful period in program history.
In 1998, Garner returned to Clemson, when he was named the Head Coach of the Tigers track program. He guided his Clemson squad to the 1999 ACC team title in the outdoor season. It was the first such title for the Tigers in eight years. For his efforts, Garner was selected the 1999 ACC Coach of the Year.
From 2002 until 2004, Garner served as an assistant track and field coach at the University of Virginia . While in Charlottesville , Garner coached two U.S. Olympic Trials qualifiers and an NCAA All-America. Garner\'s throwers at Virginia won three ACC titles, qualified for the NCAA National Championships in three events, and won an NCAA East Region event championship.
"It\'s a very humbling experience to be able to return to Christopher Newport," Garner said. "Since I left the CNU program, I have thought of it as a role model for success. I look forward to continuing the great tradition of success that Coach Brown has established." Garner was inducted into the Christopher Newport Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Leisure Studies and Physical Education from Christopher Newport in 1982. He received his Master of Education in 1991 from Clemson University . His wife, Disa, is the head coach of the James Madison University volleyball squad. The couple has a three-year-old daughter, Kayin Champayne, and is expecting their second child this summer.