In nine 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 more than 30 All-American honors.
In 2007, the Lady Buffs ran to a 3rd place finish at the NAIA Cross Country National Championships, the highest-ever finish by a Milligan athletic team. A year later, the women returned to the NAIA National Championships, this time joined by the men's team. The women's encore performance found them in fourth place overall, while the men recorded their highest finish ever at 16th. 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 60 different athletes to national championship qualifiers at Milligan College and East Tennessee State University. The Lady Buffs earned the NAIA National Champions of Character Award during the 2006 cross country and 2007 indoor track seasons, while both squads have earned numerous academic honors throughout Layne's coaching campaign.
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.
Jim Presnell Assistant Coach
Cross Country
Track and Field
Coach Presnell comes to Milligan College after being at the helm of the Elizabethton High School's cross country and track and field programs for 22 years. In Presnell's first year coaching the throwers, his athletes broke every existing school record in the throws and had two national qualifying marks.
A former state champion in the discus, along with being a University of Tennessee track champion, Presnell saw much success as a student-athlete at Elizabethton High School.
As a coach, Presnell led the Cyclones to a state championship and several top-five finishes. He also coached 22 individual athletes to state championship appearances. In 2005, he received "Coach of the Year" accolades and was nominated as the "National Coach of the Year." In the last five years alone, 13 of Presnell's student-athletes have received athletic scholarships and went on to compete at the collegiate level.
While at Milligan, Presnell has coached throwers: Tanner Payne, who won the 2009 AAC title in the discus throw and set the school records in the shot put (12.47 meters) and weight throw (12.50m) indoors and set school records in the shot put (12.20m), hammer throw (36.80m), discus (44.00m) and javelin (44.60m) outdoors; and Chelsea Leavell, who holds school records indoors in the shot put (12.60m) and weight throw (where she was ranked as high as ninth nationally with a 16.07m throw) and outdoors in the shot put (12.50m) and hammer throw (37.70m).
Outside of coaching, Presnell has held numerous positions within the Elizabethton city school district such as athletic director, transportation director and work-based learning coordinator. He will continue to serve in a teaching capacity within the school system.
Presnell holds a bachelor's degree in education a Master’s degree in School Administration from East Tennessee State University. Presnell and his wife, Karen, reside in Elizabethton.
Coach Starr returns to Milligan College after earning his Master of Divinity from Duke University. Beginning his fourth season as an assistant coach, Coach Starr has guided the sprinters, jumpers and hurdlers to 16 All-Conference performances, 9 school records and 3 NAIA national qualifying marks.
In 2009, Bryan Taveras lowered his high school 55-meter hurdles time from 8.48 seconds to 7.95, qualifying for the NAIA National Championships as a freshman. In 2008, Jamal Phelps highlighted his career with a 10th place finish at the NAIA National Championships.
While a student-athlete at Milligan, Starr 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 3,000-meters to the half-marathon. He was also named to the NAIA Academic All-America team from 2000-2003.
As a graduate student, Starr competed at Duke University. He was an ACC finalist in the 5,000 and 10,000-meters during his final year of competition. Starr also qualified for the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of AmericaChampionships at Yale University where he ran 30:51 in the 10,000 to finish his collegiate career.
