Kunle Lawson began as Maryville College's Director of Men's and Women's Track & Field in January 2022. The program is making its return to campus in spring 2023 as the college's 15th and 16th varsity sports.
Lawson's first day in his new position was Jan. 10, prioritizing the recruitment of the first class of track and field student-athletes for the college.
Lawson arrives after 6½ years as head coach of track and field and cross country at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia. Other stops include four years as head coach at Capital and earlier assistant coaching positions at Lynchburg, Ohio University and Richmond.
"We look forward to Coach Lawson leading our track and field programs and bringing his Division III expertise to our athletic program," Quatrocky said. "His passion for the student-athlete experience and emphasis on wellness in the training of student-athletes fits the model of excellence at Maryville College.
"Track and Field is a popular sport in the East Tennessee area, and we can't wait to bring it back to Maryville College. We look forward to Coach Lawson building relationships and bringing excitement to campus through the sport."
Sustained Athletics Success
Lawson over his 10 years in the profession has coached an outdoor track and field conference title team – Mary Washington in 2019 – six cross country national qualifiers, 11 track and field national qualifiers and a two-time All-America honoree. Four athletes from Mary Washington advanced to the 2018 NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships, and the Eagles followed that up with runners qualifying in three of the last four years.
"I am honored and thrilled about the opportunity to bring track and field back home to Maryville College!" Lawson said. "I want to thank Sara and Dr. Coker for believing in what I believe track and field can be at MC and the impact it can have for student-athletes. I look forward to the challenge of building a competitive program.
"I want to thank Patrick Catullo, the AD at UMW, and all of the student-athletes for the opportunity they gave me while I was there. I wish them all the best as I start this new chapter."
Lawson owns a proven record of recruiting quality student-athletes, with his teams consistently averaging above a 3.0 grade-point average.
"As we work to strategically advance Maryville College, the reintroduction of track and field is a key initiative, and we're immensely excited to have a coach of Kunle Lawson's caliber leading the program," Maryville College President Dr. Bryan Coker said. "He understands and embraces the role of Division III athletics in educating our future leaders."
New Facility Leading the Way
Lawson previously has assisted with the design of a newly constructed track and field facility, which will come in handy when Maryville begins construction on its own facility this semester.
Maryville announced in October 2021 plans to construct the Austin Coleman Piper Memorial Track and begin recruiting for men's and women's track and field teams. The new facility, named for the beloved board chair and 1968 alumnus who died unexpectedly in late August following an accident in Chatauqua, New York, will include a turf infield and is expected to cost between $2 million and $3 million.
"A new track and field facility, particularly in the East Tennessee area, will help us attract quality student-athletes to MC," Lawson said. "The completion of the new facility coupled with the addition of the track and field program helps make Maryville College a destination school for many student-athletes with collegiate competition aspirations.
"We are poised to have a significant impact on track and field in East Tennessee, and we will be able to honor the legacy of Cole Piper."
Lawson's background also includes work as a U.S. Army counterintelligence agent and a strength and conditioning coach for both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs.
The Lynchburg, Virginia, native earned degrees in business management in 1997 and exercise physiology (Summa cum Laude) in 2005 from Lynchburg College, where he was a two-time Old Dominion Athletic Conference champion in the discus. He earned a master's degree in coaching education from Ohio University in 2007.
Lawson is married to the former Stephanie Gustwiller of Wauseon, Ohio, and they are the parents of a son, James.
