Fall 2011
UNCP Today
22
Veteran track coach
Larry Rodgers retired
T
rack and field coach Larry Rodgers announced his retirement
on June 28, completing a 30-year career that included 10
appearances at national championships, six conference titles and
two district titles.
Rodgers, who will retire on July 1, was an All-American runner
at UNCP and became head coach in 1981.
"Larry epitomized what Pembroke is all about in his
professional and personal life," said athletic director Dan Kenney.
"We wish Larry the best and hope that we can find a way to tap
into his talents as a new retiree. We will never be able to thank
him enough for all that he has done for UNC Pembroke."
Rodgers' final season was a good one. The men's track and
field team finished 38th at the NCAA Division II National
Championships. He was named 2011 Southeast Region Coach
of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches
Association.
During Rodgers' tenure, UNCP athletes earned 32 All-
American awards, including two by sprinter Maurice Eubanks
in 2011. There were 99 athletes named All-Carolinas
Conference, 48 All-District and 25 All-Region. Gary Henry
won two individual national championships in the 5,000- and
10,000-meter runs under Rodgers' coaching.
Rodgers' teams won first or second place in the Carolinas
Conference and NAIA District 26 meets in seven seasons,
including six consecutive league championships from 1982-87.
The Braves finished in second place at district meets from 1982-85
before winning back-to-back district championships in 1986-87.
As both men's and women's cross country coach from 1981-
2008, Rodgers' teams won seven district titles and earned
invitations to14 regional championships and three trips to
the national championships. He had 38 All-District, 38 All-
Conference, one All-Region and one All-American performers.
Rodgers was a 1972 All-American at UNCP and three-time
All-District performer in track from 1968-73. He holds the
Johnson '07, `10 named
wrestling coach
O
thello Johnson '07, `10, who served as
an assistant coach for five seasons, has
been named the university's sixth wrestling
coach.
Over the last five years, Brave wrestlers
compiled a 51-40 dual meet clip and
finished in the top 30 nationally every year.
As an assistant coach, he coached seven NCAA All-Americans,
and 16 student-athletes made appearances at the NCAA Division
II National Championships during his most recent stint.
"I look forward to continuing the success the program has built
over the last five years under coach Jamie Gibbs," Johnson said.
He earned a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science at
UNCP and a master's degree in physical education.
Stanley `11 named
track & field coach
A
donis Stanley `11, who served as an
assistant coach the past two seasons,
was named the university's third track
and field coach.
"I am excited to have the opportunity
to lead the track and field program,"
Stanley said. "I look forward to the
challenge ahead and to continue the successful legacy of this
program."
Stanley was recently named Southeast Region Assistant
Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country
Coaches Association. He placed two sprinters in the NCAA
championships last spring.
Stanley completed his master's degree in physical
education at UNCP in 2011.
school record in the 600-yard run (1:14.9) and a share of a sprint
medley relay team record. He was a part of four NAIA District 29
championship teams under his mentor and UNCP Hall of Fame
coach, Dr. Ed Crain.
Rodgers issued this statement on his retirement:
"First I would like to thank our administration, faculty,
staff and community for the support, the letters and words of
encouragement and help that you provided during my 30 years
at UNCP. I count it all as a joy and a blessing to have had the
opportunity to work with all of you. I will always cherish the
memories, the friendships and wonderful time spent here.
"Furthermore, to my coach and mentors, Dr. Ed Crain, Dr.
Tommy Thompson, Dan Kenney, and all my former
athletes and students, I send a special
thanks to all of you.
The awards and
championships won
and all the success
stories that have been
written about me or the
track and field and cross
country teams, I have
enjoyed only because of
the valuable contribution
that you made to help
make it all possible.
"To my coaching staff
and colleagues, it has been a
pleasure working with all of
you. You are a special group of
coaches that love what you do
and have a genuine concern for
helping young men and women
become mature adults that will
make a difference in life. Keep up
the good work.
"Lastly, I will miss being at
UNCP, but I feel that the time is
right for me to say good bye."
Athleics