Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University vice-president and director of athletics Steve Poston announces the appointment of Matt van Lierop as director of track and field and cross country. Coach van Lierop will manage all aspects of six sports (men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field and men's and women's cross country). He will begin his Wingate duties on June 1.
 
Matt van Lierop joins the Bulldog family after 10 seasons as head track and field and cross country coach at the University of Mount Olive in Mount Olive, N.C. During his time with the Trojans, van Lierop's track and field and cross country teams competed in 26 NCAA Division II championships with 46 All-American performances. Mount Olive won 40 regional and conference championships. Two Trojan student-athletes received CoSIDA Academic All-America® honors.
 
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
 
Wingate University vice-president and director of athletes Steve Poston:
 
"We were very impressed with Matt van Lierop's concern for the well-being of his student-athletes. We anticipate great things from his teams, but we are pleased with the way he serves as a life coach for his student-athletes. The total student-athlete experience...competition, classroom and community…is very important to us."
 
"We are very excited Coach van Lierop has decided to join us as the leader of our track and field and cross country programs. He quickly rose to the top of our list of qualified candidates. Matt has an obvious record of great successes at the conference, regional and national levels."
 
Wingate University deputy director of athletics Michelle Caddigan:
 
"We are thrilled Coach van Lierop has accepted the position of director of track and field and cross country…and we welcome him to the Wingate family with open arms. Coach van Lierop has a proven record of success in the Southeast Region and on a national level. His emphasis on the student-athlete experience, culture and his diligent work on helping his student-athletes achieve their goals is exciting and will be of great value to our student-athletes. I look forward to see how his leadership will transform our programs."
 
Wingate University director of track and field and cross country Matt van Lierop:
 
"I'm excited about the future of the Bulldog track and field and cross country program and Wingate University Athletics. I'm honored by the faith and support from vice-president and director of athletics Steve Poston and deputy director of athletics Michelle Caddigan, as well as the rest of the search committee."
 
"I'm ready to hit the ground running in this new position of director of track and field and cross country. I am looking forward to the many challenges and triumphs ahead, getting to know the student-athletes, developing the culture and chasing down those championship experiences."
 
"The University of Mount Olive family and UMO vice-president of athletics Jeff Eisen have prepared me over the last decade to help take Wingate University to the next level. I thank everyone from my family of assistant coaches and student-athletes at UMO for affording me that opportunity."   
 
CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESSES
 
This year, van Lierop led the UMO Trojans to Conference Carolinas championships in men's and women's cross country and men's and women's indoor track and field. The Mount Olive cross country teams finished second (men) and fourth (women), respectively, in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region race. The Trojan men finished 13th at cross country nationals, with women's standout Leah Hanle earning All-American honors for the third straight year.
 
In the 2019 NCAA Division II indoor track and field championships, van Lierop helped Hanle earn two All-American trophies (3000 meters and 5000 meters). In addition, he steered the men's 4x400 meter relay team to the school's first-ever All-American relay performance.
 
TWO TRIPLE CROWNS

In 2017-18, van Lierop and Mount Olive won the school's second straight Conference Carolinas Triple Crown as the Trojans swept the two cross country titles and the four track and field crowns. Mount Olive claimed third place at the 2018 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional cross country meet, sending the entire women's team to nationals for the first time in program history.
 
COACH OF THE YEAR HONORS

During his tenure at Mount Olive, van Lierop has amassed a combined 16 Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year Awards in men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor track and field and men's and women's outdoor track and field. Most recently, he was named the USTFCCCA Southeast Region women's indoor track and field Coach of the Year this winter.
 
In addition, van Lierop has also twice been named the USTFCCCA Division II men's outdoor track and field Southeast Region Coach of the Year (2014, 2015). He was named the USTFCCCA women's outdoor track and field Southeast Region Coach of the Year in 2011.
 
RANKINGS

Under van Lierop, Mount Olive has consistently been ranked in the USTFCCCA Southeast Region Top 10 in men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor track and field and men's and women's outdoor track and field. The Trojans have earned numerous number one regional rankings.
 
PRE-MOUNT OLIVE

Prior to his time at Mount Olive, van Lierop was the head cross country and track and field coach at Keystone (Pa.) College for five years. During his tenure at Keystone, van Lierop was a five-time conference coach of the year winner, three times for men's cross country and twice for women's country. He guided Keystone to three men's cross country conference championships and two women's cross country titles.
 
AS A STUDENT-ATHLETE
 
During his student-athlete days, van Lierop competed at Lehigh University. He earned All-Patriot League honors in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. Coach van Lierop received a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in psychology from Lehigh.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
A comprehensive, independent and growing university, Wingate serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Founded in 1896, the University offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as graduate and professional programs. Wingate is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. Wingate blends in-class exploration with out-of-class application to deliver an uncommon and life-changing educational experience.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 12 years. Wingate is first in the 2000s among NCAA Division II and North Carolina's colleges and universities with 106 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 115 lifetime Academic All-America® honorees. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com. Current news and videos can be found at www.wingate.edu.