University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Wayne Angel named Director of Track and Field and Cross Country
7/3/2019 11:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field, Track & Field, Cross Country
UNC Athletics names Wayne Angel its Director of Track and Field and Cross Country
Northern Colorado Athletics introduces Wayne Angel as its Director of Track and Field and Cross Country. Angel comes to UNC after a successful five year stint at Tennessee Tech.
"I am honored and super excited to accept the position of Director of Track and Field and Cross Country at the University of Northern Colorado," Angel said. "I would like to thank President Feinstein, Director of Athletics Darren Dunn as well as Rachel Walton and David Sabolcik for presenting this great opportunity to me and for their energy and commitment to the future of this program.
"My mission is to make UNC the best track and field program in the Big Sky. My wife Tammy and I look forward to being a part of the UNC family, athletic department and community".
 "We are excited to welcome Wayne and his wife Tammy to the Bear family," Director of Athletics Darren Dunn said. "Throughout the hiring process, it became clear that Wayne was the right fit to lead UNC track and field and cross country. He brings tremendous experience in developing successful track and field and cross country programs while preparing young men and women to be champions for life."
Angel led Tennessee Tech to both the indoor and outdoor Ohio Valley Conference championships in 2018 and 2019. In that time, he also produced the OVC Athlete of the Year each season. Angel coached TTU to 40 OVC titles from 2016-19. He also helped NaAsha Robinson to a second team All-America finish for the women's 400m in 2017. He was named the OVC Coach of the Year four times.
Angel not only had success as the track and field coach but also in cross country at Tennessee Tech. He sent an individual to the NCAA Championships in 2017 and 2018 and had both the men's and women's individual OVC champion in 2016. The Golden Eagles not only excelled on the cross country course but in the classroom as well as earning NCAA top 10% APR progress rating awards in 2017 and 2018. Â
Prior to Tennessee Tech, Angel was the head men's cross country and track and field head coach at Florida A&M from 2010-14. He coached two NCAA All-Americans and was named the MEAC Coach of the Year twice.
Angel also had stops at Illinois as the head men's cross country and track and field coach (2003-09), head women's cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at Iowa (2002-03) and Wichita State (1999-2002) as the head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach.
At Illinois Angel coached a pair of Olympians in Viktors Lacis, Andrew Riley and Gakologewang Masheto.
A Rantoul, Illinois native, Angel earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois where he was a two-time Big Ten champion and former school record holder in the 400-meter hurdles. He competed in two Olympic Trials (1980/Eugene. Ore. and 1984/Los Angeles). He is a three-time gold medalist at the World Military Games and a seven-time Inter-Service champion. He currently holds the Armed Forces record in the 400-meter hurdles (:49.92). He is a member of two Halls of Fame (Parkland College Hall of Fame and the Rantoul [Ill.] High School Hall of Fame). Angel is also a Distinguished Honor Graduate of the U.S. Army's Air Assault School. He earned the elite and coveted Army Ranger tab as well as his Airborne wings.
Angel is married to the former Tammy Johnson of Jefferson, City, Tenn. He has seven children – Brian, Danielle, Christie, Jason, Wayne, Geoffrey and Raven – and six grandchildren.
Angel Accomplishments
- Helped train three Olympians
- Named Coach of the Year six times
- Coached 21 NCAA All-Americans
- Led teams to five team titles
"I am honored and super excited to accept the position of Director of Track and Field and Cross Country at the University of Northern Colorado," Angel said. "I would like to thank President Feinstein, Director of Athletics Darren Dunn as well as Rachel Walton and David Sabolcik for presenting this great opportunity to me and for their energy and commitment to the future of this program.
"My mission is to make UNC the best track and field program in the Big Sky. My wife Tammy and I look forward to being a part of the UNC family, athletic department and community".
 "We are excited to welcome Wayne and his wife Tammy to the Bear family," Director of Athletics Darren Dunn said. "Throughout the hiring process, it became clear that Wayne was the right fit to lead UNC track and field and cross country. He brings tremendous experience in developing successful track and field and cross country programs while preparing young men and women to be champions for life."
Angel led Tennessee Tech to both the indoor and outdoor Ohio Valley Conference championships in 2018 and 2019. In that time, he also produced the OVC Athlete of the Year each season. Angel coached TTU to 40 OVC titles from 2016-19. He also helped NaAsha Robinson to a second team All-America finish for the women's 400m in 2017. He was named the OVC Coach of the Year four times.
Angel not only had success as the track and field coach but also in cross country at Tennessee Tech. He sent an individual to the NCAA Championships in 2017 and 2018 and had both the men's and women's individual OVC champion in 2016. The Golden Eagles not only excelled on the cross country course but in the classroom as well as earning NCAA top 10% APR progress rating awards in 2017 and 2018. Â
Prior to Tennessee Tech, Angel was the head men's cross country and track and field head coach at Florida A&M from 2010-14. He coached two NCAA All-Americans and was named the MEAC Coach of the Year twice.
Angel also had stops at Illinois as the head men's cross country and track and field coach (2003-09), head women's cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at Iowa (2002-03) and Wichita State (1999-2002) as the head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach.
At Illinois Angel coached a pair of Olympians in Viktors Lacis, Andrew Riley and Gakologewang Masheto.
A Rantoul, Illinois native, Angel earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois where he was a two-time Big Ten champion and former school record holder in the 400-meter hurdles. He competed in two Olympic Trials (1980/Eugene. Ore. and 1984/Los Angeles). He is a three-time gold medalist at the World Military Games and a seven-time Inter-Service champion. He currently holds the Armed Forces record in the 400-meter hurdles (:49.92). He is a member of two Halls of Fame (Parkland College Hall of Fame and the Rantoul [Ill.] High School Hall of Fame). Angel is also a Distinguished Honor Graduate of the U.S. Army's Air Assault School. He earned the elite and coveted Army Ranger tab as well as his Airborne wings.
Angel is married to the former Tammy Johnson of Jefferson, City, Tenn. He has seven children – Brian, Danielle, Christie, Jason, Wayne, Geoffrey and Raven – and six grandchildren.
Angel Accomplishments
- Helped train three Olympians
- Named Coach of the Year six times
- Coached 21 NCAA All-Americans
- Led teams to five team titles
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