Lumley Named Assistant AD

Lumley moves into the position vacated by Bobby Williams when he became SHSU's director of athletics on April 29. Lumley will be giving up his position as head coach of both the men's and women's track and field and cross country programs.

Just two weeks ago, Lumley's Bearkat track team placed second at the 27th annual Southland Conference Track and Field Championship in San Marcos with a school record point total of 138, just four points out of first place. When Lumley became SHSU head coach in 1989, he took over a team that placed eighth in the Southland, scoring only eight points.

In his 10 years as track and field and cross country coach, his men's and women's squads have established 71 of the 78 school records on the books at SHSU and produced the program's first four NCAA Division I national qualifiers. Twelve Bearkat athletes have won a total of 23 Southland Conference individual championships under Lumley's direction.

"John Lumley has done a tremendous job building our track and field program literally from the ground up. Now he will bring this same expertise to our task of making our overall athletic program at Sam Houston State stronger," said Williams. "John's organizational skills and his understanding of what athletic administration can do to help coaches win will be a huge asset for our program."

Lumley has twice been named Southland Conference "Coach of the Year." His athletes have earned SLC Outdoor Track Outstanding Field Performer honors four times.

"Building the track and field program to its current level has been one of the highlights of my career. It isn't easy to leave. But, opportunities like this one are rare and I am excited about meeting the challenge," said Lumley.

"Bobby Williams is going to take this department to a new level. As part of his team, our goal will be to run the department so that coaches can concentrate on coaching and not have to worry so much about administrative details. Bobby has set winning the Southland Commissioner's Cup All-Sports Trophy as a department goal. That goal is obtainable and I'm looking forward to working towards its accomplishment."

Lumley came to Sam Houston State in 1989 from the University of Texas at Arlington where he served for nine seasons as assistant track and cross country coach. A 1980 graduate of UTA with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Lumley also holds a master's degree in biomechanics from Texas Woman's University (1983). His wife, Susan, is an assistant principal at Huntsville High School. The Lumleys have twin daughters, Haley and Holley (11).

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Media Contact: Paul Ridings
June 4, 1998
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