Aug. 8, 2008

Two ACC programs recently named new Directors of Track & Field and Cross Country. Clemson hired Lawrence Johnson on July 30 and Virginia tabbed Jason Vigilante on August 6.

ClemsonTigers.com--Lawrence Johnson has been named Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Clemson, the athletic department announced Wednesday. Johnson comes to Clemson after serving as an assistant for four years with the Virginia Tech track & field program. Most recently, Johnson served as the Associate Head Women's Coach for the Hokies' 2007-08 season.

Johnson, 33, has been one of the top assistant coaches in the country, especially when considering the credentials of his student-athletes over the past two seasons. He coached the sprints, hurdles, jumps, and multi-events for the men and women at Virginia Tech. He was named 2008 Southeast Region Assistant Coach-of-the-Year by the U.S. Track & Field coaches' association because of his efforts. Johnson's groups were a big reason the Hokies claimed four straight ACC championships and two consecutive NCAA East Region titles in the women's program since 2006-07. In 2007, Johnson was named National Assistant Coach-of-the-Year for women's sprints and hurdles.

• More on Johnson

VirginiaSports.com--Virginia athletics director Craig Littlepage announced today Jason Vigilante (VIG-ah-Lan-tee) has been named the Director of Track and Field and Cross Country for the Cavaliers. Vigilante comes to Virginia after serving as the associate head men’s track and field and head men’s cross country coach at the University of Texas.

Vigilante originally joined the Longhorn staff in 1999 as a volunteer coach for women’s cross country. In 2000 he became an assistant coach for the men’s track and field and men’s cross country programs. In August of 2005, he was promoted to the position as Texas’ head men’s cross country coach.

• More on Vigilante