BOONE, N.C. - App State alum Damion McLean has been promoted to Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at his alma mater. McLean agreed to a three-year contract through the 2023-24 season, director of athletics Doug Gillin announced Saturday after the contract was approved by Chancellor Sheri Everts and the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees.
"Congratulations to Coach McLean on being named the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country," said Senior Associate A.D. Makini Thompson. "Damion will continue to grow and develop our student-athletes as we strive for comprehensive excellence. I look forward to watching Damion and his staff develop our student-athletes."
McLean began his coaching career with App State in 2003 and assumed the role of head track & field coach in June 2018. He coached Peighton Simmons to a pair of conference titles in the triple jump last season, becoming the first Mountaineer to win the event indoors since 2010. Simmons followed that with the outdoor Sun Belt title as well, becoming the first Mountaineer woman to win the triple jump in both the indoor and outdoor season since 2010. In addition, McLean saw three jumpers in Eric Haddock Jr., Maya Hanks and Simmons qualify for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in the triple jump.
"I want to thank Doug Gillin for the trust that he has shown in me to continue to coach at Appalachian State University, and Chancellor Everts and the Board of Trustees for their unwavering support," McLean said.
In the 2019-20 indoor season, McLean led both programs to another step. The men's program saw three school records fall during the season, with De'Shawn Ballard breaking the 200-meter and 300-meter dash records. The women's side saw two school records fall during the season, with Jessica Dixon breaking the program mark in the 400-meter dash on her way to the Sun Belt title.
In his first season as head coach of the Mountaineers, he guided the women's track & field program to seventh-place finishes at both the Sun Belt Indoor and Outdoor Championships. On the men's side, the Black and Gold finished sixth at the Sun Belt Indoor Championships and eighth at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships.
McLean presents various coaching techniques and methods at an annual speaking engagement for the NCTCCCA, is a member of the USATF and USTFCCCA, has his USATF Level 2 certification in the jumps, sprints & relays, USTFCCCA Strength & Conditioning certification and attended the Emerging Elite Coaches Clinic at the Olympic Training Center in San Diego, Calif.
McLean Notes
- McLean has coached 40 conference champions (36 SoCon, three Sun Belt).
- Developed 113 all-conference performances (87 SoCon, 26 Sun Belt) and six conference MVP's (All SoCon).
- Coached 20 NCAA qualifiers from 12 competitors.
- His athletes hold 12 individual school records while owning a combined 190 top-10 marks across 32 events in App State indoor and outdoor track and field history.
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During his time at App State, his athletes have shown key accomplishments, including:
• Rhonda White posting the fourth-best mark in the nation in the triple jump in 2004 (44-2.00) and finishing 13th at the NCAA Indoor Championships
• Mark Sturgis placing 16th in the triple jump at the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championships
• Vonteena Knotts placing 16th in the long jump at the 2007 NCAA Championships and 18th at the 2008 NCAA Championships
• The men's 4x100 relay team that placed 14th at the 2012 NCAA Championships with a school-record time of 39.70
• Breanna Alston broke the school's 300m indoor, 400m outdoor, women's 4x400, and sprint medley records in 2014
• William Buckley earning Honorable Mention All-America honors in the outdoor 100-meter dash in 2015 with a time of 10.45 seconds
