ELKINS, W. Va. — The Davis & Elkins College department of athletics and Director of Athletics Jamie Joss has announced Omar Lane to the position of assistant cross country and track & field coach, following the institution's selection as a recipient of the NCAA Division II Coaching Enhancement Grant.
"We are ecstatic to be provided with this highly-competitive NCAA grant opportunity and how it assists us with our commitment to diversity and inclusion within our department," Joss said. "But equally as important, providing stability to attract an outstanding full-time person to assist in the growth of our cross country/track program as a students, athletes and people."
The Division II diversity grants provide grant funding to members committed to enhancing ethnic minority and gender representation in athletics administration and assistant coaching positions. Lane spent the 2018-2019 season as the assistant track & field coach, assisting head coach Jason Pyles in all facets of the programs.
"I want to thank the NCAA and Davis & Elkins athletic department for allowing me to receive and accept this grant," Lane said. "I'm excited to continue helping the track & field athletes here at D&E strive for success on the track and in the classroom."
Lane came to Elkins in August 2018 following the 2017-2018 season as the assistant track & field coach at Tusculum University, in Greeneville, Tennessee. Lane also spent two years as a graduate assistant at the University of South Dakota, following an All-American career at Tiffin University.
Between the 2018-2019 indoor and outdoor track & field seasons, Lane mentored three runners to Division II provisional times, four Great Midwest Athletic Conference champions, the G-MAC Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year, and two USTFCCA all-regional selections.
The Senators open the 2019 cross country campaign with the Bethany Invite on Saturday, September 7 at 10:00 AM.
