Tennessee Volunteers men's cross country

Last updated
Tennessee Volunteers cross country
Tennessee Volunteers logo.svg
Founded1924
University University of Tennessee
Athletic director Danny White
Head coachSean Carlson (1st season)
Conference SEC
Location Knoxville, TN
CourseCherokee Farm Cross Country Course
Nickname Volunteers
ColorsOrange and white [1]
   
National championships
1972
NCAA Championship appearances
1951, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2022, 2023
NCAA regional appearances
1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Conference champions
1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990

The Tennessee Volunteers men's cross country program represents the University of Tennessee located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The men's program competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The men's cross country team officially started in 1924. [2]

Contents

Coaching staff

Entering the 2011-2012 school year, George Watts had been head coach of University of Tennessee cross country team for 26 years. Under his mentor he has developed 25 All-SEC citations, 13 All-SEC or All-South Region, three SEC All-Freshman honorees and three All-America performers. [3] [4] In July 2011 it was announced that Watts had been released and that J.J. Clark would take over the men's cross country team effectively merging all of Tennessee's track & field and cross country programs. [5] J.J. Clark was highly unsuccessful as he never guided the team above a 5th place SEC finish or a trip to the NCAA Championships.

In May 2014, it was announced by Athletic Director Dave Hart that Director of Track and Field/Cross Country JJ Clark would not be retained. Later, in June 2014, it was announced that Beth Alford-Sullivan would be the next Director of Track and Field/Cross Country at the University of Tennessee. This hire made her the first female SEC coach of any men's team. Tennessee's NCAA Championship drought and struggles in SEC play continued under Alford-Sullivan's tenure until she was fired in May 2022.

Former Notre Dame coach Sean Carlson was hired to lead the men's and women's cross country teams and the distance runners. [6] In Carlson's first year as head coach, he led them to their best finish (2nd) at the SEC Championships since 1999, their first NCAA South Regional title since 2002 (where they outperformed SEC Champion Alabama by 34 points), and returned the Vols to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2005, where they finished 20th. [7] Following a second South Regional title and return to the NCAA Championships in 2023, Carlson was named the USTFCCCA South Region men's coach of the year. [8]

Team history

The Tennessee Volunteers program began competing in 1924. It was not until 1962 that the team gained its first coach, Chuck Rohe. Under his guidance the Vols reached new heights winning multiple SEC regular season and tournament championships. Under his guidance the Vols reached their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1963 where they finished 5th, he would then lead the team to four more NCAA appearances until he left the team in 1968. The team found more success with the hire of Stan Huntsman who led UT to many trips to the NCAA Tournament and won the Volunteers their first and only national title. From 1962-2009 the team has amassed a 201-38-1 record in team dual meets earning them a .840 winning percentage. [9]

Home courses

The Lambert Acres Golf Club was previously the site of home cross country meets for the Volunteers from 1998-2013. The course still serves as a 27-hole golf course, and is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and boasts 9,525 yards. Throughout its run, the course hosted the Tennessee Invitational 10 times, the NCAA South Regional in 2002, 2006 and 2008, and Southeastern Conference Championship in 1998. [10] In 2014, the Vols moved much closer to home with the opening of the new Cherokee Farm Cross Country Course on Alcoa highway across the Tennessee River from the main UT campus. The course served as the practice venue for the team in 2014 and 2015, before finally serving in competition for the 2016 season. The course has two loops, one that is 2k and the other is 1k. The course was designed specifically for viewers to use the small loop, where it is ensured that runners have to pass the same point at least three times in a race. [11]

Year-by-Year results

*Through November 11, 2022.
*Note: records from 1924-1961 are inaccurate
Sources [12] [13] [14]
Year-by-Year Results
YearHead CoachConference
Meet
NCAA
Regional
NCAA
Meet
Southern Conference
1924-1928 Records Incomplete
1929T–4th
1930T–5th
19313rd (100)
19324th (125)
Southeastern Conference
1933-1945 Records Incomplete
19462nd (44)
19472nd (73)
19484th (79)
19491st (48)
19501st (30)
19511st (18) 6th (195)
19521st (30)
19535th (125)
19542nd (46)
19554th (79)
19561st (26)
1957 Records Incomplete
19583rd (94)
19594th (94)
1960-1961 Records Incomplete
1962Chuck Rohe5th (114)
1963Chuck Rohe1st (15)
1964Chuck Rohe 11th (290)
1965Chuck Rohe1st (15)1st (22) 3rd (137)
1966Chuck Rohe1st (39)2nd (50) 24th (519)
1967Chuck Rohe1st (28)2nd (50) 12th (286)
1968Chuck Rohe1st (30)1st (37) 17th (360)
1969Connie Smith1st (34)3rd (102) 18th (445)
1970Connie Smith3rd (47)2nd (68)
1971 Stan Huntsman 1st (48)4th (93) 21st (478)
1972 Stan Huntsman 1st (35)4th (123) 1st (134)
1973 Stan Huntsman 2nd (47)3rd (98) 13th (286)
1974 Stan Huntsman 1st (44)8th (145)
1975 Stan Huntsman 1st (38)1st (53) 16th (381)
1976 Stan Huntsman 1st (32)1st (62) 6th (280)
1977 Stan Huntsman 1st (23)2nd (75) 8th (260)
1978 Stan Huntsman 1st (24)1st (35) 6th (247)
1979 Stan Huntsman 4th (89)9th (248)
1980 Stan Huntsman 2nd (64)5th (153) 18th (457)
1981 Stan Huntsman 1st (38)2nd (91) 19th (417)
1982 Stan Huntsman 1st (47)4th (141) 13th (302)
1983 Stan Huntsman 1st (31)4th (130) 10th (291)
1984 Stan Huntsman 1st (38)2nd (98) 3rd (144)
1985Doug Brown1st (44)2nd (109) 13th (345)
1986Doug Brown2nd (46)2nd (123) 14th (329)
1987Doug Brown2nd (63)4th (157)
1988Doug Brown2nd (39)1st (85) 3rd (177)
1989Doug Brown1st (57)2nd (130) 17th (353)
1990Doug Brown1st (52)2nd (111) 7th (235)
1991Doug Brown2nd (88)4th (167) 21st (420)
1992Doug Brown2nd (96)10th (299)
1993Doug Brown2nd (75)3rd (144) 18th (409)
1994Doug Brown2nd (42)T–1st (133) 12th (294)
1995George Watts2nd (58)1st (61) 12th (272)
1996George Watts3rd (92)5th (178)
1997George Watts5th (124)4th (164)
1998George Watts2nd (63)2nd (92) T–21st (501)
1999George Watts2nd (59)3rd (113)
2000George Watts7th (163)5th (139)
2001George Watts3rd (92)2nd (84) 30th (722)
2002George Watts4th (105)1st (51) 31st (647)
2003George Watts6th (141)4th (125)
2004George Watts5th (124)6th (160)
2005George Watts4th (93)4th (100) 28th (604)
2006George Watts4th (121)4th (108)
2007George Watts4th (102)8th (178)
2008George Watts5th (130)5th (156)
2009George Watts6th (142)6th (178)
2010George Watts4th (132)4th (150)
2011J.J. ClarkT–5th (169)12th (341)
2012J.J. Clark7th (217)8th (250)
2013J.J. Clark7th (187)5th (181)
2014Beth Alford-Sullivan7th (205)10th (262)
2015Beth Alford-Sullivan11th (301)T–9th (296)
2016Beth Alford-Sullivan9th (278)10th (300)
2017Beth Alford-Sullivan5th (125)5th (165)
2018Beth Alford-Sullivan4th (132)3rd (108)
2019Beth Alford-Sullivan9th (221)12th (320)
2020Beth Alford-Sullivan4th (123)N/A
2021Beth Alford-Sullivan5th (169)7th (228)
2022Sean CarlsonT–2nd (64)1st (39) 20th (517)
2023Sean Carlson3rd (59)1st (68) 26th (556)
Total2511 1

Note: In 2020, due to COVID-19, the cross country season was shortened, and NCAA regionals were not held, as teams advanced straight to the championships.

All-Americans

Tennessee has a total of 17 men's cross country All-Americans

  • Ron Addison, 1976
  • Jamie Barnes, 1991
  • Doug Brown, 1972, 1973
  • Tony Cosey, 1994, 1995
  • Rick Cummins, 1988
  • Pat Davey, 1978
  • Doug Ellington, 1998
  • Stewart Ellington, 1994
  • Alf Holmberg, 1951
  • David Krafsur, 1985
  • Glenn Morgan, 1989, 1990
  • Peter Okwera, 2012
  • Rickey Pittman, 1981
  • Bob Redington, 1965
  • Zach Sabatino, 2005
  • Doug Tolson, 1983, 1984
  • George Watts, 1977
  • Todd Williams, 1988, 1989, 1990

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers</span> University of Tennessee athletic teams

The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the 20 male and female varsity intercollegiate athletics programs that represent the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In January 2021, Danny White was introduced as the Volunteers' Director of Athletics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers basketball</span> College mens basketball team representing the University of Tennessee

The Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team is the collegiate men's basketball program for the University of Tennessee–Knoxville. The Volunteers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Volunteers play their home games in Thompson–Boling Arena, on a court nicknamed "the Summitt", after former Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt. With a current capacity of 21,678, Tennessee has consistently ranked in the top 15 in the nation in terms of volume of attendance, averaging 14,817 attendance from 1988 through 2006, and averaging 17,194 attendance from 2007 through 2018 after reducing seating capacity prior to the 2007 season. Historically, Tennessee ranks third in the SEC in all-time wins. Many notable players have played collegiately at Tennessee—players such as Bernard King, Dale Ellis, Allan Houston, Tobias Harris, and Chris Lofton who all play(ed) in the NBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008–09 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2008–09 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2008-09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. This was the fourth season for Bruce Pearl as the Volunteers' head coach. The team, a member of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference, played its home games at Thompson-Boling Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Tennessee Volunteers football team</span> American college football season

The 2010 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Derek Dooley who was in his first season as the 22nd coach in UT football history. The Vols played their home games at Neyland Stadium and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference. The Vols played seven home games this season. Derek Dooley won his coaching debut with the Vols 50–0 versus Tennessee-Martin on September 4, 2010, in front of 99,123 at Neyland Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball</span> Womens university softball team from Knoxville, Tennessee

The Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball team represents the University of Tennessee (UT) in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA Division I women's softball competition. Coached by Karen Weekly, the team has become a consistently top tier team in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), appearing in every NCAA tournament since 2004, and qualifying for 8 Women's College World Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers women's volleyball</span> American collegiate volleyball team

The Tennessee Volunteers women's volleyball team represents the University of Tennessee located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Volunteers play their home matches in the Thompson–Boling Arena on the university's campus, and are currently led by 3rd-year head coach Eve Rackham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers women's cross country</span>

The Tennessee Volunteers women's cross country program represents the University of Tennessee (UT) located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The women's program competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The women's cross country team officially started in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers men's golf</span>

The Tennessee Volunteers men's golf team represents the University of Tennessee located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Vols compete at the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Vols currently rotate between 16 different golf courses located in the state of Tennessee, with their main headquarters at the Blackburn-Furrow Golf Clubhouse at Day Golf Practice Facility, less than a mile from campus. The current coach for the Volunteer men is Brennan Webb who is in his 5th season as Tennessee's head coach. Since the Vol's inaugural season in 1934 they have won three SEC championships, competed in 17 NCAA Championships, and participated in 27 NCAA Regionals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers men's swimming and diving</span>

The Tennessee Volunteers men's Swimming and Diving program represents the University of Tennessee located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers are currently coached by Matt Kredich. The Vols host their swim meets in the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center which was newly built in 2008. The Vols compete in the SEC where they have won 10 SEC team titles, 173 individual titles and 45 relay crowns. Over the past 75 years of competition the Vols have produced numerous All-Americans, 24 Olympians, scored in 53 consecutive NCAA Championship meets, won 45 individual NCAA titles and won 1 NCAA National Title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers men's track and field</span>

The Tennessee Volunteers men's track and field program represents the University of Tennessee in the sport of track and field. The indoor and outdoor programs compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Vols host their home outdoor meets at the newly renovated Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium, located on the university's Knoxville, Tennessee campus. Their rich tradition of success features 4 national titles, 7 finishes as national runner-ups, 62 NCAA individual champions, numerous All-Americans, 25 Olympians, 43 SEC championships, and 109 combined scoring appearances in the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. The team is led by current head coach Duane Ross who took over the program after Beth Alford-Sullivan in May 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers women's soccer</span> American college soccer team

The Tennessee Volunteers women's soccer team represents the University of Tennessee (UT) in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA Division I women's soccer competition as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers women's track and field</span>

The Tennessee Volunteers women's track and field program represents the University of Tennessee in the sport of track and field. The indoor and outdoor programs compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Lady Vols host their home outdoor meets at the newly renovated Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium, located on the university's Knoxville, Tennessee campus. They formally held meets indoors at Stokely Athletic Center until the arenas demolition in 2012, but will soon have a new indoor track facility sometime in the 2020s. The team is led by current head coach Duane Ross who took over the program after the firing of Beth Alford-Sullivan in May 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2014–15 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team's head coach was Donnie Tyndall, who was in his first season at Tennessee. The team played their home games at the Thompson–Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 16–16, 7–11 in SEC play to finish in tenth place. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament where they lost to Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–18 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2017–18 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Volunteers were led by third-year head coach Rick Barnes. The team played its home games at Thompson–Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee, as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 26–9, 13–5 in SEC play to earn a share of the SEC regular season championship. As the No. 2 seed in the SEC tournament, they defeated Mississippi State and Arkansas before losing to Kentucky in the championship game. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 3 seed in the South region. There the Volunteers defeated Wright State before being upset by Loyola–Chicago in the Second Round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers men's tennis</span> Sports organization

The Tennessee Volunteer men's tennis team represents the University of Tennessee, in Knoxville, TN. The program has appeared in 31 NCAA Tournaments. Additionally, the Vols have won 9 SEC Championships, 4 SEC Tournaments, and finished as national runner-up three times. Prominent ATP players who came to Tennessee include Tennys Sandgren, John-Patrick Smith, Chris Woodruff, Paul Annacone, Michael Fancutt, and Mike De Palmer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2018–19 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Volunteers were led by fourth-year head coach Rick Barnes. The team played its home games at Thompson–Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee, as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 31–6, 15–3 to finish in 2nd place. In the SEC Tournament, they defeated Mississippi State and Kentucky to make it to the championship. In the championship, they lost to Auburn. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where they defeated Colgate in the First Round, Iowa in the Second Round before losing in the Sweet Sixteen to Purdue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers women's golf</span>

The Tennessee Volunteers women's golf team represents the University of Tennessee located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Vols compete at the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Vols currently rotate between 16 different golf courses located in the state of Tennessee. The current coach for the Lady Volunteer's is Diana Cantu who began in 2022. Until the 2022 season, the Lady Vols had appeared in an NCAA regional every year since the program began in 1993, and they were one of only 9 NCAA Division 1 teams to compete in every NCAA regional since the championship’s format was established. Overall the Lady Vols have competed in 29 NCAA Regionals and 14 NCAA Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers women's swimming and diving</span>

The Tennessee Volunteers women's Swimming and Diving program represents the University of Tennessee located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers are currently coached by Matt Kredich. The Lady Vols host their swim home meets in Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center which was newly built in 2008. The Lady compete in the SEC where they have won 2 SEC team titles, 84 individual, relay, and diving titles. Additionally, the program is one of only 3 that have scored in all 41 NCAA meets, and it has produced 8 NCAA individual and relay titles, 16 Olympians, and 3 Olympic medalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee Volunteers women's tennis</span>

The Tennessee Volunteers women's tennis team represents the University of Tennessee, in Knoxville, TN. The program has qualified for 30 NCAA Tournaments, including 20 straight from 1995 to 2014. They are led by former player and current 6th year head coach Alison Ojeda.

Dylan Jacobs is an American distance runner who competed for Notre Dame and the Tennessee Volunteers in college before turning pro and signing with On. He is a three-time NCAA Champion.

References

  1. "General Information". UTSports.com. June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  2. "UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Men's Cross Country". Utsports.com.
  3. "George Watts Profile - UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics". Utsports.com.
  4. "GoVolsXtra". Govolsxtra.com.
  5. "GoVolsXtra". Govolsxtra.com.
  6. "White Appoints Sean Carlson as Head Coach and Director of Cross Country/Distance". Utsports.com.
  7. "Vols Win NCAA South Region, Qualify for NCAA Championships".
  8. "Carlson Named USTFCCCA South Region Men's Coach of the Year". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  9. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2011-07-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "University of Tennessee Athletics Women's Cross Country". Archived from the original on 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
  11. "Facilities". Utsports.com.
  12. "2014 Tennessee Volunteers Cross Country Record Book - Year-by-year records". Issuu.com. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  13. "SEC Men's Cross Country Record Book" (PDF). A.espncdn.com. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  14. "Southern Conference Cross Country Record Book" (PDF). Southernconf_ftp.sidearemsports.com. Retrieved 2022-07-28.