Wingate, N.C.----The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has named Wingate University assistant cross country coach and head track and field coach Jackie Kirby vice-president for the NCAA Division II cross country executive committee. Kirby will fill an unexpired VP term until 2028, followed by a three-year tenure as president until 2031.
 
Kirby joined the WU cross country and track and field coaching staff as director of operations in June of 2022. She was promoted to head track and field coach during the summer of 2023. She has served four seasons as an assistant coach for cross country.
 
Kirby's first four seasons with WU cross country saw the Bulldogs sweep the South Atlantic Conference titles each year. Wingate won the SAC men's and women's XC crowns in the fall of 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The Bulldogs have won two men's cross country national titles in 2023 and 2025. The Wingate women finished a program-best third place in the '25 NCAA XC meet.
 
What They Are Saying about Jackie Kirby
Wingate director of cross country and track and field Matt van Lierop 

"I've known Jaqueline Kirby for 20 years, first as a student-athlete, then an assistant, then a head coach, and now…vice-president of the USTFCCCA Cross Country executive committee. She's been through it all…the ups and downs and highs and lows of being an athlete and a coach."
 
"We could not be prouder of all that she has accomplished on all levels. It's an honor to know her peers see it, too. This is an elected position, by XCTF coaches from across the entire nation. Coach Kirby has been developing these working relationships with coaching colleagues on all levels and the payoff is here."
 
"We are looking forward to seeing what she can do with this new access and her finger on the pulse of the coaching community. Congrats to Jackie. This is quite an honor!"
 
Track success as well
 
Kirby led Wingate to first place in the SAC men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field championship meets in 2023, 2024 and 2025. On the national level, Wingate has won one relay and five individual national championships at either the NCAA Division II indoor or outdoor meet.
 
Jackie Kirby coaching biographical sketch
Wingate University 

- Joined WUXCTF staff in June of 2022 as director of operations
- Promoted to Wingate track and field head coach in the summer of 2023
- Southeast Region men's Coach of the Year three times
- SER indoor men's COTY in '25, outdoor men's COTY in '25, '24
- South Atlantic Conference indoor Coach of the Year two times
- SAC men's indoor COTY in '25, women's indoor COTY in '24
 
Jackie Kirby coaching biographical sketch
University of Mount Olive
 
- Started Mount Olive XC head coaching tenure with Conference Carolinas men's Coach of the Year award in 2019
- Six-time USTFCCCA SER track and field Assistant Coach of the Year while at UMO
- Impacted every area of the UMO XCTF programs, including team operations, training and recruiting
- Coordinated volunteer service outreach for the Trojans
- Served four years as Mount Olive's athletic department photographer for all sports
- Worked seven years as the XCTF program's graphic designer and social media coordinator
 
Jackie Kirby USTFCCCA regional and national involvement
 
- Elected vice-present of the USTFCCCA Division II XC executive committee (2025-present)
- Served on USTFCCCA national and regional poll committees (2016-present)
- Served on USTFCCCA NCAA Division II cross country executive committee as Conference Carolinas representative (2018-22)
 
Jackie Kirby education and athletic honors
 
- Earned Bachelor of Arts degree in visual art, photography and graphic design from Keystone (Pa.) College in 2009
- Inducted into Keystone College's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019
- Received the Keystonian awarded to the school's most outstanding athlete three times (2007, 2008 and 2009)
- Qualified for NCAA Division III XC national championships twice (2007, 2008)
- Qualified for NCAA Division III indoor track nationals in 2009 (mile, 5000 meters)
- Served on Keystone Student-Athlete Advisory Committee three years
- Served as team captain for both cross country and track and field for two seasons each under the tutelage of then-KC head coach Matt van Lierop

Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University 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.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
OneDog, #OneDog, and One Day One Dog are registered trademarks of Wingate University.