Eugene Galloway was a NCAA DI Regional Qualifier in the Triple Jump, but he is poised to do even greater things in his career as a coach! Below, Coach Galloway talks about the joy that brought him into coaching, his path to a full-time position, and the importance of prayer along the journey!

Name: Coach Gene Galloway

Current Position: Assistant Cross Country/Track & Field at Roanoke College

Past Positions: Account Manager at an HR firm

Education & Certifications: Master of Science: Sports Studies at High Point University

USATF Level 1

USTFCCCA Technical Certification, Advanced Strength and Conditioning, Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays Certification

Top Athletic Achievements: Two time Indoor/Outdoor Big South Conference TJ Champion. He was a two-time NCAA D1 East Regional Qualifer and a member of the 2000-2009 All-Big South Conference decade team

Top Coaching Achievements: Coached Quinn Harlan in the 60m dash at this year’s NCAA DIII Indoor Championships (7.52 holds 4th and 6th fastest time in DIII history.)

1. How did you know you wanted to get into coaching?

I knew coaching was something I wanted to do when volunteering at my former AAU track Club. At the time, I had just finished up my undergraduate degree. The joy I had in helping kids and parents learn about our sport, advising them about the college application process, and traveling to different states throughout the country, made my decision pretty easy about why I wanted to be a coach.

2. How did you get connected with your first coaching gig?

Prayer, persistence, and having a strong supporting cast! At the time I was an account manager at an HR firm and was out of coaching for four years. I had prayed about making a career change for about two years. During the summer of 2014, my wife had just finished up nursing school. With her blessing, we decided that I was going to resign from my job and pursue college coaching. The plan was to either move to Charlotte, NC and volunteer coach at JC Smith or have one of the numerous applications I put out land and hopefully sick. A week before I was going to officially put my two week notice in, Roanoke College’s former Head Coach Dr. Finn Pincus gave me a call about a part-time assistant position. Immediately, I took it without even hesitating and the rest is history.

3. What is it like to hold your current position?

It is a blessing and I take nothing for granted! There is always something to do and places to go whether it’s recruiting, meet management, coaching certifications, or networking.

4. What is one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring coaches?

My advice for young coaches would be to have faith in what you are trying to do. As people, we often times get caught up on what others have or what they are doing instead of focusing on how we can improve ourselves. Depending on your religious beliefs (I’m a Christian) I strongly encourage those who want to get into the coaching profession to pray/meditate. If you truly believe this is your calling then pursue it no matter what obstacles you may have. There is a reward in following through on your faith!