University of Mount Union Men's Cross Country

Lucas enters his eighth year at Mount Union in the fall of 2015 and has not only continued but expanded the strong tradition of the Purple Raider cross country and track and field teams. He has been the head women's cross country and track and field coach for eight seasons and took over control of both men's and women's cross country and track and field programs in December 2010. The highlight of his tenure so far as been leading the men's outdoor track and field team to its first ever national title in 2014 on his way to earning Ohio Athletic Conference, Great Lakes Region and National Coach of the Year honors for the accomplishment. On the men's side, he has led Mount Union to a three OAC cross country titles, a five OAC indoor track and field titles and run of six-straight outdoor track and field titles. His successess have not been limited to just the guy's side as the Mount Union women's teams have also reached new heights. In 2012, Lucas led the Mount Union women to their highest ever finish in outdoor track and field as the Raiders placed third in the nation. Under his guidance, the Raiders have won six-straight conference indoor titles and seven-straight outdoor titles. In total, he has combined to win 11 OAC Coach of the Year honors and had 88 All-American selections between both men's and women's cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field. The womens cross country program has taken similar strides under Lucas guidance. His roster increased from five runners in 2009 to 22 this past season. He guided the men to a second place finish in the OAC during his first season in charge of the program last year. Seven runners have earned all-conference honors under Lucas. He has led the men's cross country team to three conference titles and in 2013 the Raiders had their first All-American since 2008. Prior to coming to Mount Union, he spent a year as head mens and womens track and field coach at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md. In 2009, the Sea Gull mens outdoor track and field team had three All-Americans, a pair of individual national championships and placed fourth in the nation. Prior to his stint at Salisbury, Lucas spent seven years at fellow OAC member Heidelberg University. From 2001 to 2003, he was an assistant cross country and track and field coach, before taking over as the mens head coach in 2005. From 2006 to 2008, he was the head mens and womens cross country and track and field coach. His mens teams at Heidelberg earned 10 individual All-American honors and had a two-time indoor long jump national champion. In his first year as womens head coach, Heidelberg had its best finishes at the OAC indoor and outdoor championships since 2000. He also delivered the program its first indoor national champion and All-American in the 55-meter dash. Lucas spent the 2003-04 season as an assistant coach at his alma mater and OAC member Wilmington College where he was the sprint coach for the men's and women's track and field teams. He helped the Quakers finish 18th in the nation, earn six All-American honors including two national runners-up. The Russellville, Ohio, native earned bachelor's degrees in business administration and communication from Wilmington in 2001. He was a four-year track and field letter winner for the Quakers where he was named the team's Most Valuable Runner twice (1999 and 2000) and was the schools top male scholar-athlete as he earned OACs Clyde Lamb selection in 2001. He set the OAC indoor record in the 400-meter dash and Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference outdoor record in the same event. Lucas was All-American honors in 2001, a nine-time national qualifier and a USTFCCCA All-Academic selection. He also went on to earn a masters degree in education from Heidelberg

Griffin enters his fourth season as an assistant cross country and track and field coach at Mount Union. Griffin returns to Mount Union after competing for the Purple Raiders from 2007-11, earning four letters in both cross country and track and field. He was named Ohio Athletic Conference Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2010 after capturing the OAC individual title and helping the Raiders claim a record 25th conference title. A three-time national qualifier and four-time regional qualifier, Griffin was a two-time All-Great Lakes and four-time All-OAC recipient. On the track, Griffin was a national champion in the 1500 meter run in 2009 and was a three-time national qualifier. He was an OAC Champion eight times as an individual and three times as a member of a relay team while earning All-OAC honors 17 times. In 2010, Griffin was named Outstanding Distance Athlete at the OAC Indoor Track and Field Championships after capturing the 3,000 meter run and one mile conference titles and finishing second in the 1000 meter run. He was also named to the All-Academic Team by United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association in 2010. Griffin spent the past year coaching middle school cross country and track and field at his alma mater, Massillon Perry. He coached the Federal League individual girls champion in cross country and the one mile girls champion in track and field. Griffin was also the seventh grade girls basketball coach at Dalton Local Schools, where he served as a technology instructor and tutor. The Massillon, Ohio, native graduated from Mount Union in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in history.