University of Mount Olive Men's Track

Van Lierop is a graduate of Lehigh University, where he earned All-Patriot League honors in cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field. Favorite Quote: I would rather tryand failthan to have never tried at all All-Time Coaching Record Indoor Outdoor Updated 6-14-15

Justin Potter joined the University of Mount Olive Track and Field Staff in August of 2016. In August of 2021 he was promoted to Associate Head Coach.  Potter came to Mount Olive from Shenandoah University where he served as the Assistant Cross Country/Track & Field Coach from 2013-2016. Before then, he served a stint at Lynchburg College, where he earned his Master's in Education in 2013, as a Graduate Assistant with the Track and Field team from 2011-13.  Since coming to UMO, Potter has coached 36 all-conference award winners, 9 conference champions, 1 field athlete of the year (Hannah Glover), 7 new school record holders, 1 conference record (Candy Lockett) and had 1 provisional qualifier (Lockett).  While at Lynchburg, Potter coached many student-athletes to individual championships, however, one champion stood out. In his first outdoor season coaching, one of his student-athletes on their final attempt in the discus was in second place. His thrower on their final attempt collected a four-foot personal best and won the event. Potter coached 14 individual conference champions, 36 all-conference award winners, and 1 all American in the decathlon. In his final season coaching at Shenandoah, Potter had his first-ever female individual hammer champion. The student-athlete fouled on her first two throws of the competition and needed a good mark to make the finals in the event. The final throw of the prelims ended up winning her the championship. Potter coached 32 all-conference award winners, 38 new school records, 4 individual conference champions, 1 rookie of the year and 8 national qualifiers. Potter returned to his Alma Mater five years after graduating from UMO (Mount Olive College at the time) with a Bachelor's in History. While at Mount Olive, Potter was a member of the Track and Field team that won their first-ever Conference Carolinas Championship in 2011. During that meet, Potter earned Mount Olive a point in the Javelin with a 6th place finish in the event.  Justin is married to Nicole Balsamello the Manager for Admissions Operations at the University Mount Olive. They reside in Mount Olive and have a son Carson, a cat named Ziggy and a dog named Zoey. The Potter's can be seen cheering on the Carolina Panthers every Sunday. Advice to future student-athletes: "Great things will happen if you believe in yourself and invest in your program."

Briggs was added to the University of Mount Olive men's and women's track and field coaching staff in the summer of 2013. Briggs assists during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. In his first year at Mount Olive, Briggs was named the 2014 USTFCCCA Division II Women's Indoor Track and Field Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Mount Olive swept the regional awards as Matt van Vierlop was named Southeast Region Coach of the Year and Chelsea Van Dijk was named Southeast Region Athlete of the Year. Briggs helped Mount Olive win the Conference Carolinas Men's and Women's Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2014 and again in 2015. The Trojans were represented in the 2014 NCAA Division II Men's Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the 2015 NCAA Division II Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship. Before arriving at Mount Olive, Briggs spent the previous year as a volunteer track and field coach at UNC-Wilmington. He worked with the team's sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers. He also served as a volunteer coach for Evolution Track Club, working primarily with hurdlers. Briggs spent two years as an assistant track and field coach at his high school alma mater, Ewing High School in New Jersey. Briggs earned his undergraduate degree from University of Delaware. He was a member of the Blue Hens football team during his freshman year. Updated June 17, 2015

Jackson returned to his alma mater in August 2015 to join the Trojan men's and women's track and field coaching staff. As a member of the UMO men's track and field team, Jackson set a school record in the weight throw and remains in the all-time top 10 in the discus, hammer and javelin. He helped lead the Trojans to Conference Carolinas outdoor championships in 2011 and 2012. Jackson also demonstrated excellence in academics and citizenship. Graduating with a degree in recreational therapy and a minor in biology, Jackson was named to the Conference Carolinas All-Academic Team and to the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll. He was also the recipient of the UMO Covenant Award for the virtue of Respect and became the school's first-ever Covenant Award Winner of the Year in 2012-13. Jackson completed his master's of social work (MSW) with a 3.90 grade point average at East Carolina University and received the Most Outsdanding MSW Student Award. While pursuing his master's, Jackson served as head boys' track and field coach at Spring Creek High School.

Kirby joined the University of Mount Olive in the fall of 2009 as an assistant coach for the Trojan mens and womens cross country and track and field teams. Kirby was promoted to associate coach in July 2014. Kirby helped Mount Olive win the Conference Carolinas Men's Cross Country and Men's and Women's Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2013-14 and 2014-15. The Trojans finished 2013-14 ranked No. 12 in Division II in combined men's cross country, men's indoor track and field and men's outdoor track and field programs. Mount Olive has earned a berth in the NCAA Division II Men's Cross Country Championship in each of the last four years, finishing in the top 20 in 2013 (16th) and 2014 (19th). In the 2014 championship, Akiharu Kitagawa came within one place of becoming the Trojans' first-ever men's cross country All-America. In both the 2013 and 2014 Conference Carolinas Men's Cross Country Championships, a record seven Mount Olive runners earned All-Conference Carolinas honors. Kirby has helped the Trojans consistently stay ranked in the USTFCCCA Region Top 10 in men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor track and field, and men's and women's outdoor track and field. Since 2011, Trojan men's and women's track and field student-athletes have won a combined nine Conference Carolinas Athlete of the Year awards. Alaytra Carswell was named Women's Track and Field (Track Events) Athlete of the Year in 2011 and 2012, becoming the first Trojan student-athlete in any sport to earn Conference Player of the Year honors in both their freshman and sophomore years. Kirby is a graduate of Keystone College, where she earned a B.A. in visual arts with a concentration in photography and graphic design. Kirby was a decorated cross country and track and field athlete at Keystone. She was a three-time cross country conference champion (twice in the Northeast Athletic Conference, senior year in the Colonial States Athletic Conference) and still holds school records for fastest time in both the 5k and 6k. Kirby was a two-time all-region selection and qualified for the NCAA Division III Womens Cross Country National Championship in her junior and senior years. Kirby was the 2009 CSAC Track and Field Athlete of the Year and qualified for the 2009 NCAA Division III Womens Track and Field Championship in the 5,000 meters and the mile. Kirby holds school records in six different events. Kirby ran for current Trojan head coach Matt van Lierop when he was head cross country/track and field coach at Keystone. Still an avid runner, Kirby competes in races throughout the region. Advice to prospective student-athletes: Training over the summer takes dedication, commitment, and a desire of wanting to be better. Putting in the work over the summer could turn a good season into a great season, and I believe putting in the work is what makes individuals and teams successful. Dont always expect what made you a decent runner in high school is going to keep you afloat in college running. Also, always do your research, and find out as much information as possible about the schools and running programs that interest you. Updated June 17, 2015