WISE - - UVA Wise Director of Athletics Kendall Rainey announced the hiring of Andrew Howard as the first track and field coach in school history Thursday. Howard will oversee indoor and outdoor track for both the men's and women's teams while also serving as men's and women's cross country coach. 

Howard comes to UVA Wise after serving as the Head Track and Field and Cross Country Coach at NCAA Division III Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, N.C. since 2016.

"We are very excited to welcome Coach Howard and his family to the UVA Wise team," remarked Rainey. "The search committee and I were impressed with his vision and expectations for cross country and the development of our track and field program."

A four-year member of the cross country and track programs at Gardner-Webb University, Howard earned all-conference accolades as a member of the 4x400 meter relay team at the Atlantic-Sun Outdoor Conference Championship as a senior.

Following his collegiate career, Howard began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater before spending nearly a decade as the head coach of the cross country and track and field programs at Mount Airy High School in Mount Airy, N.C.

From there, he served as an assistant for one season at Pfeiffer before becoming the head coach of the Falcons.

"I am excited and honored for the opportunity to lead the track and field and cross country programs," stated the new coach. "I am looking forward to the challenge of building a track and field program that will be able to be competitive in the nationally strong South Atlantic Conference."

With the Falcons, Howard directly worked with the men's and women's distance runners along with throwers.  Under his tutelage, Pfeiffer student-athletes established more than 30 new school records across various events.

"Coach Howard is driven, and competitive, and his focus on providing quality student-athlete experiences fits perfectly with our mission," Rainey added. "We are confident that the combination of his collegiate participation, regional recruiting, and coaching experiences will be ideal to lead the UVA Wise running program."

Howard and wife Amy, have two children a daughter Madison and a son Luke.

"The staff, atmosphere, and vision inside the athletic department led me to believe that UVA Wise was a great fit for my family and me," Howard commented. "I would like to thank Chancellor Donna P. Henry, Athletic Director Kendall Rainey and the hiring committee for their time and efforts during this process and for affording me this great opportunity."

Howard obtained a bachelor's degree in communications from Gardner-Webb before later adding a master's degree in leadership from Pfeiffer.

The coach will begin work immediately.