MILLIGAN, Tenn. – Milligan University's athletics department announced on Wednesday that Chris Layne has been promoted from Head Coach of the cross country and track & field programs to the Director of Cross Country and Track & Field.

"Coach Layne has consistently been one of the most successful collegiate coaches in the sport of cross country and track & field," said director of athletics David Blackburn. "Additionally, he has exhibited valiant service to Milligan for over two-and-a-half decades. Along with Dr. Waers and campus leadership, we are proud to name him Director of Cross Country and Track & Field."

Layne is no stranger to success. As the longest-tenured coach at Milligan, he has led the cross country and track & field programs since they were resurrected in 1999-2000. A 43-time Appalachian Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Layne has played a part in coaching 231 NAIA All-Americans, including relays.

A total of 25 individual national championships across all three seasons, including two relay squads, have been coached by Layne across his 26 years of service to the Buffs. Additionally, his cross country teams have won three team titles, with the men and women sweeping the national championships in 2021 and the men taking home the 2023 honor.

The author of the programs from the ground up has guided his teams to top-25 national finishes in 56 of the 78 seasons he has coached in 26 years at the helm. On top of their success nationally, they have also been recognized four times as national NAIA Champions of Character recipients in women's cross country (2007), women's indoor track & field (2007, 2017) and men's outdoor track & field (2017).

In the classroom, his teams have totaled 357 NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors in his tenure, as well as 15 College Sports Communicators Academic All-Americans, including Emily Kearney as the CSC Academic All-America Team Member of the Year in 2020-21.

"I am grateful to our administration for their continued trust and vision," stated Layne, "and deeply thankful for our coaches and the countless student-athletes who have poured their hearts into Milligan's mission and this program. Their work ethic and dedication genuinely make this one of the absolute best jobs in the world. This next chapter is about continuing to build on the elite culture we've created together."

Layne will begin his 27^th season as the leader of the programs in 2026-27 with his sights set on continued success for his student-athletes in the classroom, as well as on the course, the track and the field.