BANNER ELK, N.C. - Athletic Director Craig McPhail has announced the hiring of Head Men's and Women's Cross-Country coach Thomas Cason.

"Having someone like Thomas on our staff is great for us," said McPhail, the new assistant coach. "He brings so much experience and has developed talent everywhere he has been and has tremendous recruiting abilities to help further guide our distance runners."

Cason's last coaching stop came at Brevard College where he spent four years as head coach of both the men's and women's cross-country and track and field programs. While at Brevard he coached five NAIA National Qualifiers in cross-country and track. On the academic side he coached one NAIA Academic All-American, and his women's team received the award for highest team GPA for four consecutive years.

Before coaching at Brevard, Cason spent a year at Montreat College where he started the men's and women's cross country programs.

He also spent three years at Davidson as head women's cross-country coach and three years at Furman as assistant men's and women's cross country and track and field coach.

Cason was a three-time All-State cross-country runner for J.L. Mann High School in Greenville, S.C. and former track 3A State Champion in the 1600m and the 3200m. He continued his success at Furman University where he earned All-Southern Conference awards in cross-country and track in the 3000m steeplechase.

He is still currently an avid trail runner and most recently finished 4th in the 2004 National Trial Marathon Championships. He is Level I and II certified by US Track and Field.

He can be reached at 828-898-2562 and casont@lmc.edu