Milligan University Women's Cross Country

Layne has coached another Buff Hall of Famer, Meagan Lease, who was a six-time All-American. In 2013, Hannah Segrave finished as the national runner-up in the 800 meter, while on the mens side, Brandon Ellis was the national runner-up in the marathon. The women's team earned the NAIA National Champion of Character award during the 2006 cross-country and 2007 indoor track & field seasons, while both squads have earned numerous academic honors throughout Layne's coaching campaign while continuing to be heavily involved in the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative. In addition to his collegiate coaching accomplishments, in 2007, Layne coached former Texas A&M All-American Melissa Cook, who competed for New Balance, to personal bests of 4:14 (1500m), 15:34 (5k), and 32:31 (10k). In 2004, Layne coached his wife, Catherine, who competed for both Asics and Nike, to a 5000-meter victory at the British Olympic Trials. She went on to run the Olympic Games B standard with a personal best time of 15:19 at the Huesden Grand Prix meet in Belgium that same year. While a collegian, Layne was named to the All-Southern Conference and All-Ohio Valley Conference teams in the 400 meters, 800 meters, 4 x 100m relay, and 4 x 400m relay. In 1992, as a member of the Middle Tennessee State University 4 x 100 meter relay and 4 x 200 meter relay teams, the Blue Raiders finished third and fifth respectively at the prestigious Penn Relays. The 4 x 200 meter relay would go on to earn a world ranking by Track and Field News. Post collegiately, Layne competed in the 1996 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 4 x 400 meter relay.   

Corriher is in his fifth year at Milligan College as an assistant coach for cross-country and track & field. In addition, he serves as the programs recruiting coordinator.    In his four years of coaching at Milligan, the field events program has had tremendous success. In his time, 19 school records (11 throws, five jumps, three combined events) and seven Appalachian Athletic Conference records have been broken. Furthering these accomplishments, Corriher has produced 26 AAC conference champions in the field events, nine NAIA national qualifiers, and three All-Americans in the throwing events. Before Milligan, Corriher worked for two-time Olympian and current NCAA record-holder in the discus and shot put, Meg Ritchie Stone, at East Tennessee State University. Coach Corriher served as the track & field teams strength and conditioning coach and helped Stone with the throwing events. Daniel helped train multiple school record-holders, all-conference performers and regional qualifiers. Before ETSU, Corriher competed at UNC Asheville in the throwing events where he is in the top three all-time performers list for the shot put, hammer and weight throw.   Corriher earned his Bachelor of Science degree in health and wellness promotion at UNC Asheville and his masters in sport physiology from East Tennessee State University. Corriher also holds certifications through USA Weightlifting (Sport Performance Coach) and USA Track and Field (Level 1). Corriher resides in Johnson City, Tennessee, with his wife Sarah.

Rivas can also be seen helping with recruiting.   Rivas ran collegiately at Milligan College for five years from 2009 to 2014. During her time at Milligan, she was a four-time national qualifier in crosscountry and the marathon. In 2013, she finished 16th at the NAIA Outdoor National Championships.   She graduated from Milligan College in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. Rivas continued her education at Milligan College and graduated with her masters degree in business administration in 2015.   The Viña del Mar, Chile, native attended University High School and ran cross-country, played softball, and was on the cheerleading team before graduating in 2009.   Natalia resides with her family in Jonesborough, Tennessee.  

Pickett is in his third year at Milligan College as the assistant coach for cross-country and track & field. He directly oversees the sprints, hurdles, and multi-events.    In his first season with the Buffaloes, Pickett coached Fitzroy Harris to the Appalachian Athletic Conference outdoor title in the 400-meter dash and guided Harris to All-Conference honors in the 200. In 2015, Pickett was instrumental in the men's track & field team earning a postseason national ranking of No. 21. During that same season, a number of his student-athletes earned All-Conference Academic honors and were Dean's List recipients.    Prior to Milligan, Pickett spent a season at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) as a volunteer assistant, working with the sprinters and hurdlers. While under the tutelage of Brandon Morton, he assisted in the coaching of six conference champions, 16 all-conference performers, three NCAA East Regional Qualifiers and two All-Academic performers. In addition, he co-coached a women's 4 x 100 relay team that qualified for the NCAA Championships.    In 2013, Pickett privately coached former Howard University standout Christopher Harrison to a seventh-place finish in the 400 at the USA Indoor Championships.   Pickett is a 2010 graduate of UNC Asheville where he earned a Bachelor of Science in health and wellness and was a top five all-time performer in the 60 meters. He also holds a masters in kinesiology and sport management from ETSU, and is a USA Track & Field Level 1 & Level 2 Coach in the sprints, hurdles and relays.    Along with his coaching duties, he is a lecturer in the Human Performance and Exercise Science Department at Milligan.      Coach Pickett resides in Johnson City, Tennessee.