New cross country coach comes to Troy

Troy Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Marc Davis announced that Elliott Blount has been appointed the new cross country head coach as of Thursday, Aug. 14.

Before arriving at Troy, Blount was an assistant coach at Columbia University, where he worked primarily with the Lions’ middle distance group.

During his tenure as a coach at Columbia, he coached two Academic All-Americans, five All-Americans, 10 individual conference champions, 13 NCAA East Regional Qualifiers, and 37 All-Ivy League selections.

“I am excited to have Coach Blount on board to lead our cross country, middle distance, and distance program,” Davis said. “I have watched him lead the Columbia athletes to great achievements over the past four years.

“He brings knowledge and enthusiasm to Trojan nation. With his leadership of these student-athletes, great things will be accomplished.”

Blount graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2002 and was a former NCAA All-American and six-time Big East selection. As a two-year captain at UConn, he was a nine-time letter winner with the Huskies, and in 2002 was the UConn Outstanding Student Athlete.

His coaching career included assistant track and field coach at Freeport High School in his hometown of Freeport, New York, as well as head coach at Hempstead High School in 2009.

“I very much look forward to bringing the distance programs to a level of excellence in which past, present, and future Trojans will be proud to be a part of.” Blount said.