Delta State University Women's Cross Country

Shields enters her second season as a graduate assistant coach for the Lady Statesmen cross country program under the direction of head coach Doug Pinkerton. She is currently pursuing her Educational Leadership and Administration in Education Specialist degree. Shields attended Delta State from 2004-2008 and received her Bachelors degree in interdisciplinary studies. She also ran cross country for Delta State under Pinkerton in 2004 and 2005.  Before running cross country as a Lady Statesman, Shields ran cross country and track at St. Martin High School in Ocean Springs where she was named All-District and All-State. She began her coaching career at D'Iberville High School in 2009 as the boys and girls assistant cross country and track coach.  Three years later, she became the head coach. During her tenure as the head coach of the D'Iberville High School cross country and track teams, Shields had numerous runners who received All-District and All-State honors throughout their careers. Both teams finished within the top 10 for 6A each year at the state championship meet. She received her Masters degree in education from William Carey University in 2010. Shields moved to Cleveland in the summer of 2015 after teaching family and consumer science at D'Iberville High School in Biloxi for five years. She is engaged to Heath Blount of Cleveland. The couple will be married on Sept. 12, 2015.   Megan Shields Graduate Assistant Coach Twitter: Megan Shields enters her second season as a graduate assistant coach for the Lady Statesmen cross country program under the direction of head coach Doug Pinkerton. She is currently pursuing her Educational Leadership and Administration in Education Specialist degree. Shields attended Delta State from 2004-2008 and received her Bachelors degree in interdisciplinary studies. She also ran cross country for Delta State under Pinkerton in 2004 and 2005.  Before running cross country as a Lady Statesman, Shields ran cross country and track at St. Martin High School in Ocean Springs where she was named All-District and All-State. She began her coaching career at D'Iberville High School in 2009 as the boys and girls assistant cross country and track coach.  Three years later, she became the head coach. During her tenure as the head coach of the D'Iberville High School cross country and track teams, Shields had numerous runners who received All-District and All-State honors throughout their careers. Both teams finished within the top 10 for 6A each year at the state championship meet. She received her Masters degree in education from William Carey University in 2010. Shields moved to Cleveland in the summer of 2015 after teaching family and consumer science at D'Iberville High School in Biloxi for five years. She is engaged to Heath Blount of Cleveland. The couple will be married on Sept. 12, 2015.  

Pinkerton is in his thirteenth season at the helm of the Delta State University Cross Country program. Since Pinkerton took over in 2003, the Lady Statesmen have made steady improvements each year and continue to strive as a contender in the Gulf South Conference and NCAA Southeast Region.    Pinkerton's tenure has seen the Lady Statesmen establish a long list of firsts, including the program's first-ever NCAA Regional ranking in 2005 and first All-GSC selection in Kristin Williams in 2006. The program also notched its first GSC Freshman Runner of the Year and All-Region pick in 2010, as Stacey Hagenson captured that honor and All-GSC and NCAA All-Southeast Region in the same season. 2011 Lady Statesmen had their highest finish ever (2nd) in the GSC Championship and reached their highest ever NCAA II South Regional ranking (3rd).  2012 was an outstanding year for the Lady Statesmen as they finished fifth at Regionals, the highest finish in school history. The 2012 season was also the first year for Delta State Cross Country to have two All-Region runners named to their team, Hagenson and Alyssa Shetley. The Lady Statesmen finished the year ranked fifth, highest finish in school history, in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Southeast Regional Poll.  The green-and-white also performed in the classroom, as four Lady Statesmen were named to the USTFCCCA Academic All-American Team.   Pinkerton, an endurance athlete himself, has competed in over 50 triathlons, St. Louis marathon finisher, six half-marathons, 5 half-ironmans and has competed in two Ironman events (Arizona & Texas). Pinkerton, a native of Greenville, graduated from Mississippi State in 1993 with a degree in physical education and a concentration in teaching and coaching education.  He began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach for the legendary Lloyd Clark at Delta State University in 1997 after spending four years coaching several sports at the high school level.   While coaching with Clark, Pinkerton earned a Master of Education in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Pinkerton then became an instructor and was named the Director of Recreation and Wellness Activities. Pinkerton is also the Director of HPER Facilities, Operations and Programming, and Assistant Aquatics Director, among other duties he serves on campus. He is very active in several ministries around the Mississippi Delta and Cleveland communities. He serves as a deacon at First Baptist Church and holds speaking engagements for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and TRI4GOD Ministry. Pinkerton and his wife, Lisa, have two children and reside in Cleveland.    Doug Pinkerton is in his thirteenth season at the helm of the Delta State University Cross Country program. Since Pinkerton took over in 2003, the Lady Statesmen have made steady improvements each year and continue to strive as a contender in the Gulf South Conference and NCAA Southeast Region.    Pinkerton's tenure has seen the Lady Statesmen establish a long list of firsts, including the program's first-ever NCAA Regional ranking in 2005 and first All-GSC selection in Kristin Williams in 2006. The program also notched its first GSC Freshman Runner of the Year and All-Region pick in 2010, as Stacey Hagenson captured that honor and All-GSC and NCAA All-Southeast Region in the same season. 2011 Lady Statesmen had their highest finish ever (2 nd ) in the GSC Championship and reached their highest ever NCAA II South Regional ranking (3 rd ).  2012 was an outstanding year for the Lady Statesmen as they finished fifth at Regionals, the highest finish in school history. The 2012 season was also the first year for Delta State Cross Country to have two All-Region runners named to their team, Hagenson and Alyssa Shetley. The Lady Statesmen finished the year ranked fifth, highest finish in school history, in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Southeast Regional Poll.  The green-and-white also performed in the classroom, as four Lady Statesmen were named to the USTFCCCA Academic All-American Team.   Pinkerton, an endurance athlete himself, has competed in over 50 triathlons, St. Louis marathon finisher, six half-marathons, 5 half-ironmans and has competed in two Ironman events (Arizona & Texas). Pinkerton, a native of Greenville, graduated from Mississippi State in 1993 with a degree in physical education and a concentration in teaching and coaching education.  He began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach for the legendary Lloyd Clark at Delta State University in 1997 after spending four years coaching several sports at the high school level.   While coaching with Clark, Pinkerton earned a Master of Education in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Pinkerton then became an instructor and was named the Director of Recreation and Wellness Activities. Pinkerton is also the Director of HPER Facilities, Operations and Programming, and Assistant Aquatics Director, among other duties he serves on campus. He is very active in several ministries around the Mississippi Delta and Cleveland communities. He serves as a deacon at First Baptist Church and holds speaking engagements for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and TRI4GOD Ministry. Pinkerton and his wife, Lisa, have two children and reside in Cleveland.