University of North Carolina - Wilmington Women's Track

Former NCAA Academic All-American and All-Conference performer Jeff Klaves became UNCW's Head Track & Field/Cross Country Coach on Feb. 10, 2020.   A native of West Allis, Wisc., Klaves spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Campbell, working with the throws, multis and pole vault, as well as the distance runners before arriving on the coast. He previously served on the staffs at East Tennessee State and Florida Gulf Coast. Klaves, who holds certifications through USATF Level II and USTFCCAA for Throws, Multis and Jumps, competed collegiately at Campbell and was a four-year letter-winner for the Camels, earning All-Atlantic Sun honors on two occasions   At Campbell, Klaves took the men’s and women’s throws programs to new heights. He coached three conference champions and eight All-Conference performers, and his student-athletes broke eight school records with two conference records. He had student-athletes appear at the NCAA championships and on the international stage.   One of Klaves’ standouts, sophomore Patience Marshall, enjoyed an outstanding year in 2018-19, becoming one of the most decorated throwers in Big South Conference history. She won two conference titles in the shot put and discus and her mark of 164-8.75 in the discus qualified Marshall for the preliminary round of the NCAA Championships. Marshall went on to compete at the USATF U20 Nationals and became a national champion in the shot put with a throw of 52-8. Marshall’s win earned her a spot on the national team to represent the USA at the 2019 U20 Pan American games, where she won the bronze medal with a third place finish.   Klaves began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at ETSU under legendary head coach David Walker. He worked primarily with ETSU's men's and women's distance runners and helped to lead the Buccaneer squad that won the A-Sun outdoor track & field title in 2012. One of his student-athletes, Anja Claussnitzer, qualified for the 2012 NCAA outdoor track & field regionals in the women's 800m.   Klaves continued to climb the coaching ladder at Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, Fla. He worked as an assistant cross country coach with the Eagles, he helped guide the men's cross team to its best finish at the conference championships in program history. The Eagles also earned their first-ever South Regional ranking in the USTFCCCA polls and had a student-athlete named to the NCAA All-South Region Team. On the women's side, FGCU notched four top-five finishes on the year and sent a pair of runners to regionals.   In addition, Klaves has extensive administrative experience. He spent four years as the athletic director and track & field/cross country coach at Hobbton High School in Newton Grove, N.C., from 2013-17. Klaves started Hobbton's track program and led the Wildcats to 11 Carolina 1A Conference championships, four county championships, including 36 state medalists and nine state champions across six different events (shot put, discus, pole vault, 100m, 200m and indoor 300m). He was named Coach of the Year 13 times and had eight student-athletes who earned Division I or Division II scholarships.   Klaves graduated from Campbell with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics in 2010. He completed his Master’s Degree in Sport Management at ETSU in 2012.  

Max Coleman, an experienced collegiate coach who has worked with successful student-athletes at three different institutions, joined the UNCW track and field and cross country programs as an assistant coach in March 2020 and was promoted to associate head coach in August 2023. “Max has been successful at every level he’s coached, and we’re excited to have him on our staff,” said head coach Jeff Klaves. “He shares our vision to build a program around high-achieving student-athletes in the classroom with an unrelenting desire to succeed athletically. Coleman enters his 12th season of coaching and his sixth with UNCW in 2025-26. At UNCW, Coleman has coached several NCAA qualifiers and CAA champions. UNCW has also set multiple program records with Coleman on the staff. Coleman was instrumental in four of the six Coastal Athletic Association gold medals won by UNCW athletes during the 2024-25 season, working with Lakelyn Bass (women's pole vault), Donovan Lara (men's high jump), Bryson Robinson (men's long jump) and Cameron Wright (men's 110-hurdles). He helped guide Ivan Poag, who won two CAA silver medals (men's long jump and men's triple jump), and had four top-10 finishes to become the 2025 CAA Most Outstanding Field Performer at the CAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (May 14-15, 2025).  A native of Trumbull, Connecticut, Coleman spent 2018-19 and the early part of 2019-20 helping Catawba establish its new program. He previously worked at Transylvania and his alma mater, High Point. A 2014 graduate of High Point, where he competed in the high jump, long jump and relays, Coleman began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Springfield (Mass.) College. He developed training programs for the sprints and jumps events and assisted with home meet management while earning his graduate degree. Coleman accepted his first full-time position at NCAA Division III Transylvania and spent one year with the Pioneers. He worked with the hurdles, sprints and jumps events, coaching the school’s first All-American and a pair of second-place national finishers in the 60-meter and 100-meter hurdles. Overall, he coached five national qualifiers and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Male and Female Athlete of the Year in Lexington, K In 2017, Coleman moved to Catawba to help the Indians get their program started. He helped Catawba improve from 10th place to fifth place in one year and coached three All-Conference indoor performers in the long jump, triple jump and 60 meters.  In March 2020, Coleman carried sophomore MeKayla White to the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in Birmingham. White, who was ranked 10th in D-II, competed in the long jump at the Birmingham CrossPlex and became the first Catawba student-athlete to qualify for the nationals. Coleman, who has USATFCCA certifications as a combined events specialist and jumps specialist, is also certified in advanced strength and conditioning.

Max Coleman, an experienced collegiate coach who has worked with successful student-athletes at three different institutions, joined the UNCW track and field and cross country programs as an assistant coach in March 2020 and was promoted to associate head coach in August 2023. “Max has been successful at every level he’s coached, and we’re excited to have him on our staff,” said head coach Jeff Klaves. “He shares our vision to build a program around high-achieving student-athletes in the classroom with an unrelenting desire to succeed athletically. Coleman enters his 12th season of coaching and his sixth with UNCW in 2025-26. At UNCW, Coleman has coached several NCAA qualifiers and CAA champions. UNCW has also set multiple program records with Coleman on the staff. Coleman was instrumental in four of the six Coastal Athletic Association gold medals won by UNCW athletes during the 2024-25 season, working with Lakelyn Bass (women's pole vault), Donovan Lara (men's high jump), Bryson Robinson (men's long jump) and Cameron Wright (men's 110-hurdles). He helped guide Ivan Poag, who won two CAA silver medals (men's long jump and men's triple jump), and had four top-10 finishes to become the 2025 CAA Most Outstanding Field Performer at the CAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (May 14-15, 2025).  A native of Trumbull, Connecticut, Coleman spent 2018-19 and the early part of 2019-20 helping Catawba establish its new program. He previously worked at Transylvania and his alma mater, High Point. A 2014 graduate of High Point, where he competed in the high jump, long jump and relays, Coleman began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Springfield (Mass.) College. He developed training programs for the sprints and jumps events and assisted with home meet management while earning his graduate degree. Coleman accepted his first full-time position at NCAA Division III Transylvania and spent one year with the Pioneers. He worked with the hurdles, sprints and jumps events, coaching the school’s first All-American and a pair of second-place national finishers in the 60-meter and 100-meter hurdles. Overall, he coached five national qualifiers and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Male and Female Athlete of the Year in Lexington, K In 2017, Coleman moved to Catawba to help the Indians get their program started. He helped Catawba improve from 10th place to fifth place in one year and coached three All-Conference indoor performers in the long jump, triple jump and 60 meters.  In March 2020, Coleman carried sophomore MeKayla White to the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in Birmingham. White, who was ranked 10th in D-II, competed in the long jump at the Birmingham CrossPlex and became the first Catawba student-athlete to qualify for the nationals. Coleman, who has USATFCCA certifications as a combined events specialist and jumps specialist, is also certified in advanced strength and conditioning.

Donald Thomas enters his 23rd season at UNCW after spending eight years as an assistant coach at Maryland. He coordinates the Seahawks' recruiting and assists with coaching the sprints and jumps. His efforts in recruiting at UNCW have helped the Seahawks win five Coastal Athletic Association championships on the oval. Thomas has coached several NCAA qualifiers, CAA champions, All-CAA performers, school record holders, program top-10 performers, and freshman record setters during his tenure at UNCW.  Thomas, who coached the hurdlers and high jumpers in College Park, also recruited Maryland's 1999-2000 Track & Field News nationally-ranked recruiting class. At Maryland, Thomas coached Vanessa Jones to an Atlantic Coast Conference championship, an ECAC Championship and three NCAA championship appearances in the High Jump. In 2000, Jones reached the finals of the High Jump at the Olympic Trials. Thomas also trained Thema Napier to an ECAC Championship and NCAA Championship appearance in the 400-meter hurdles. In 2002, Napier reached the finals of the USA Track & Field Championships in the 400 hurdles. Thomas has coached athletes who have qualified for the Olympic Trials, USA Championships, NCAA Championships, earned All-East, All-ACC, All-CAA Honors and won CAA Track & Field Championships. He is a USATF Level One certified coach.

Carradine Assistant Coach Former UNCW mens track and field standout Alex Carradine returned to his alma mater in the fall of 2015 as an assistant coach with the program.   The Raleigh, N.C., native and Sanderson High School graduate joined interim head coach Layne Schwier's staff, giving the Seahawks another direct link to the successful program. In 2015-16, Carradine helped coach an NCAA East Preliminary Round qualifier and a Colonial Athletic Association individual champion. In addition, four student-athletes earned All-CAA honors and 12 broke into UNCW's top-10 list.   Its great to be back at UNCW, said Carradine. I believe in what this track and field program has to offer and Im ready to do what it takes to help this team achieve success.   Carradine, 26, competed in the long jump and high jump at UNCW for four seasons before earning his Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science in May of 2011. He moved on to Texas A&M, where he served as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach for the Aggies and completed his Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology in College Station in 2013.   Carradine then accepted his first full-time coaching position as assistant womens track and field coach at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich., and enjoyed immediate success in two seasons with the Wildcats. He coached two NCAA Division II All-Americans and eight All-Midwest Region honorees. One of his triple jumpers set a school record and Carradine demonstrated an ability to recruit student-athletes to one of the coldest regions of the country.   We werent sure we could talk Alex into coming back because of what he had going on in Michigan, but he jumped at the chance to return and help us rebuild this proud program, said Schwier. It was important to us to bring in not only a coach who is smart and full of passion, but someone who knows our tradition and what we need to get it done here. Alex was a good fit and will be a valuable addition to our program and department.   Carradine holds a USATF Level 1 certification and USTFCCA technical certification. He has also obtained a Jumping Event Specialist and Strength & Conditioning certifications through the USTFCCA.   Alex has always been a very hard worker and was a member of two CAA championship teams, said Schwier. Hes always been very serious about being the best he can possibly be, and thats what were looking for.    

Schwier was named head coach of the successful program. Schwier, who served as interim head coach in 2015-16, moves up to the lead chair and begins his 14th year of association with the Seahawks. He served as a longtime assistant coach for Jim Sprecher before taking over as interim head coach on July 27, 2015. Since Schwiers arrival, UNCWs distance runners have excelled, owning 120 spots on UNCW's Top 10 all-time lists, with 12 individual school records and five relay records. Schwiers cross country squads have excelled in the classroom through the years. The women have earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors 12 straight years. Individually, Schwier's student-athletes have been named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team 13 times. One of Schwiers protégés, Dylan Skinner, won the 800 Meters title and anchored the winning 4x400 relay at the 2014 CAA Championships. Skinner qualified for the NCAA Regionals, where he broke the 800 Meters record (1:48.27) and advanced to the quarterfinals.  He was also named CAA Mens Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year. All-time greats Wil Zahorodny and Bob Vanderham also shined under Schwiers tutelage. Zahorodny was named CAA Mens Cross Country Scholar Athlete-of-the-Year in 2012, while Vanderham defended his CAA Championship in the 800 Meters and competed in the first round of the NCAA Championships.   On the womens side, Schwier coached prolific runners Lindsay Ester and Kathleen Casto. In 2010-11, Ester finished sixth at the CAA Cross Country Championships to earn All-CAA honors. Casto, meanwhile, established herself as one of the best in school history in 2009-10 when she set school records in both the 10K and the 1500 Meters. She collected a conference record en route to the CAA title in the 10K, qualifying for the opening round of the NCAA Championships. In his first five years with the program, Schwier was also responsible for the throwers. The Seahawks achieved 27 All-CAA performances (12 individual titles), 25 IC4A/ECAC qualifiers (seven All-East performances and four Champions), 17 NCAA Regional qualifiers, and broke five school records during that time. Four student-athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships in the five-year span, including the first for the women's track & field program when UNCW T&F Hall of Famer Christie Schreckengost qualified in the javelin in 2004. Schwier played a major role in the emergence of all-time great Anna Raynor in the javelin. With no experience in the event before coming to UNCW, Raynor concluded her career as a three-time All-American (11th at NCAA's in 2005, fourth in 2006 and 2007), three-time CAA Champion and ECAC Champion, two-time Penn Relays Champion, as well as the CAA and UNCW record holder in the javelin.  Raynor was selected CAA Track & Field Athlete-of-the-Year three straight seasons (2004-07) and was named Southeast Region Field Athlete-of-the-Year. In the summer of 2007, Raynor finished third at the USA National Championships.  As a member of Team USA, she claimed the silver medal at the NACAC Senior Games in El Salvador. Prior to arriving in Wilmington, Schwier spent two seasons with the Ball State women's track & field program. During his stint with the Cardinals, Schwier coached Janee Langhorne to a Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship, where she also set a Mid-American Conference record in the Weight Throw. BSU also became the first MAC school to qualify a women's team to the NCAA Cross Country National Championship.   Schwier also spent two years as assistant coach at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, after beginning his career at Chillicothe (Ohio) High School as head coach of the cross country and track & field teams. Schwier ran cross country and track for four years at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and was coached by 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Schul. Schwier completed his coursework for a Masters Degree in Sport Biomechanics from Ball State.   Schwier is a member of the USTFCCCA and USA Track & Field. He holds USATF Level II Certification in Throws, Jumps, Combined Events, and Endurance. He is also a USATF Certified Level I Instructor. Layne Schwier Coaching Highlights: UNCW's cross country and track and field program began a new era on Aug. 25, 2016, when Layne Schwier was named head coach of the successful program. Schwier, who served as interim head coach in 2015-16, moves up to the lead chair and begins his 14th year of association with the Seahawks. He served as a longtime assistant coach for Jim Sprecher before taking over as interim head coach on July 27, 2015. Since Schwiers arrival, UNCWs distance runners have excelled, owning 120 spots on UNCW's Top 10 all-time lists, with 12 individual school records and five relay records. Schwiers cross country squads have excelled in the classroom through the years. The women have earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors 12 straight years. Individually, Schwier's student-athletes have been named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team 13 times. One of Schwiers protégés, Dylan Skinner, won the 800 Meters title and anchored the winning 4x400 relay at the 2014 CAA Championships. Skinner qualified for the NCAA Regionals, where he broke the 800 Meters record (1:48.27) and advanced to the quarterfinals.  He was also named CAA Mens Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year. All-time greats Wil Zahorodny and Bob Vanderham also shined under Schwiers tutelage. Zahorodny was named CAA Mens Cross Country Scholar Athlete-of-the-Year in 2012, while Vanderham defended his CAA Championship in the 800 Meters and competed in the first round of the NCAA Championships.   On the womens side, Schwier coached prolific runners Lindsay Ester and Kathleen Casto. In 2010-11, Ester finished sixth at the CAA Cross Country Championships to earn All-CAA honors. Casto, meanwhile, established herself as one of the best in school history in 2009-10 when she set school records in both the 10K and the 1500 Meters. She collected a conference record en route to the CAA title in the 10K, qualifying for the opening round of the NCAA Championships. In his first five years with the program, Schwier was also responsible for the throwers. The Seahawks achieved 27 All-CAA performances (12 individual titles), 25 IC4A/ECAC qualifiers (seven All-East performances and four Champions), 17 NCAA Regional qualifiers, and broke five school records during that time. Four student-athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships in the five-year span, including the first for the women's track & field program when UNCW T&F Hall of Famer Christie Schreckengost qualified in the javelin in 2004. Schwier played a major role in the emergence of all-time great Anna Raynor in the javelin. With no experience in the event before coming to UNCW, Raynor concluded her career as a three-time All-American (11th at NCAA's in 2005, fourth in 2006 and 2007), three-time CAA Champion and ECAC Champion, two-time Penn Relays Champion, as well as the CAA and UNCW record holder in the javelin.  Raynor was selected CAA Track & Field Athlete-of-the-Year three straight seasons (2004-07) and was named Southeast Region Field Athlete-of-the-Year. In the summer of 2007, Raynor finished third at the USA National Championships.  As a member of Team USA, she claimed the silver medal at the NACAC Senior Games in El Salvador. Prior to arriving in Wilmington, Schwier spent two seasons with the Ball State women's track & field program. During his stint with the Cardinals, Schwier coached Janee Langhorne to a Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship, where she also set a Mid-American Conference record in the Weight Throw. BSU also became the first MAC school to qualify a women's team to the NCAA Cross Country National Championship.   Schwier also spent two years as assistant coach at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, after beginning his career at Chillicothe (Ohio) High School as head coach of the cross country and track & field teams. Schwier ran cross country and track for four years at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and was coached by 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Schul. Schwier completed his coursework for a Masters Degree in Sport Biomechanics from Ball State.   Schwier is a member of the USTFCCCA and USA Track & Field. He holds USATF Level II Certification in Throws, Jumps, Combined Events, and Endurance. He is also a USATF Certified Level I Instructor. Layne Schwier Coaching Highlights: