Chris Layne Head Coach, Cross Country/Track

In seven seasons at the helm of Milligan's cross country and track programs, the Buffs and Lady Buffs have earned over 100 national championship qualifiers to go along with 22 All-American honors.

In 2006, the Lady Buffs ran to a 6th place finish at the NAIA Cross Country National Championships, the highest-ever finish by a Milligan athletic team. In 2003, freshman Marta Zimon (Lodz, Poland) earned Milligan's first national title in any sport by winning the 5000 meter NAIA indoor title. In 2001-2002, senior Philip Rotich, from Kenya, became the first-ever three-time All-American in Milligan history when he finished 10th at the NAIA cross country Championships, 2nd in the mile at the indoor national championships, and 2nd in the 800 meters at the outdoor national championships. Coach Layne has coached over 50 different athletes to national championship qualifiers at Milligan College and East Tennessee State University.

In addition to his collegiate coaching accomplishments, in 2007, Layne coached former Texas A&M All-American Melissa Cook, now running 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 currently runs for 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, he 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, he competed in the 1996 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 4 x 400 meter relay.

Contact Coach Layne at cclayne@milligan.edu or 423.461.8992.

Ryan Starr Assistant Coach, Cross Country/Track

While a student-athlete at Milligan, Ryan became the school's first 10-time NAIA National Qualifier in cross country and track. At various points he held the school record from the 3000 meters to the half-marathon. He was also named to the NAIA Academic All-America team from 2000-2003.

As a graduate student, Ryan competed at Duke University.  He was an ACC finalist in the 5000 and 10,000 meters during his final year of competition.  Ryan also qualified for the IC4A Championships at Yale Univesrsity where he ran 30:51 in the 10,000 meters to finish his collegiate career.