DistancePreps.com - University of North Florida Assistant Athletic Director/Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Mark VanAlstyne has resigned and will leave the University after 22 years to become the head cross country distance coach at the University of North Carolina.

Coach VanAlstyne is an alumnus of UNF and was a stellar student athlete prior to his coaching tenure at the University.  

VanAlstyne has coached six women’s individual national champions, eight men’s All-Americans and 27 women’s All-Americans on the track, as well as 12 cross country All-Americans.

Coach VanAlstyne was instrumental in the growth of the Osprey program, guiding the transformation from the NAIA to seeing the Ospreys compete at the highest level as an NCAA Division 1 program.  

Coach VanAlstyne was also pivotal in the numerous facility upgrades at UNF to include the 9400 seat Hodges Stadium Track & Field facility that first opened in August of 2008. Hodges Stadium is presently one of 3 IAAF Class II facilities in the United States.

Most recently, UNF and Hodges Stadium hosted the 2012 FHSAA State Track and Field Series and also the NCAA D1 East Regional Track and Field Championships.

Coach VanAlstyne will report to newly appointed Head Coach for Track and Field and Cross Country and former associate head coach at Florida State University, Coach Harlis Meaders. Coach Meaders succeeded Coach Dennis Craddock who recorded 45 ACC titles during his 27 years at Chapel Hill.