WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Longtime Track & Field and Cross Country Director Alex Heacock '09 is transitioning to the Tribe Athletics Advancement team to focus on Track & Field and Cross Country fundraising, with an emphasis on alumni and annual giving.
 
"Alex has been an incredibly impactful leader in William & Mary Athletics over the past decade. He has guided our track & field and cross country programs with integrity, consistency and a deep commitment to student-athlete development, all while helping our teams compete for championships and uphold the academic standards that make William & Mary special." said Brian D. Mann, Director of Athletics.  "Just as importantly, he has built meaningful relationships with alumni, parents and supporters who care deeply about these programs. That combination makes him uniquely qualified for this new role on the Advancement team, and I am excited to see him help elevate the future of Tribe Track & Field and Cross Country, as well as the rest of our department, through philanthropy and engagement."
 
As Heacock prepares to shift into his new role, he is excited about the opportunity for a new professional challenge and grateful to continue strengthening the cross country and track & field legacy William & Mary.  "I'm looking forward to expanding my role in the Athletics Department and continuing to support the University and my family in this new role.  I have spent nearly half my life on the W&M campus, first as an athlete, then as an assistant coach, and most recently as the Director of this program.  I'm honored to continue my career with the Tribe and excited about this next phase of growth for the program. I'm also pleased that it will allow me to be a bit more present with my wife, Ashley, and our three girls," he said.
 
During his tenure, Heacock's program achieved a number of milestones. Nine student-athletes earned All-America honors, there were seven CAA Cross Country Championships, 13 student-athletes who were honored as CAA Rookie of the Year, 13 who were honored as CAA Athletes of the Year and eight who earned Most Outstanding Performer awards at the CAA Championships.  Of particular significance to Heacock, a former Tribe javelin thrower, 11 out of 12 of the program's records in the throwing events have been broken, demonstrating his strength as a technical expert in the sport.
 
Heacock's student-athletes were also outstanding performers in the classroom.  They earned 10 NCAA Public Recognition Awards for APR; nine CAA Academic Team Excellence Awards and three student-athletes were named to Phi Beta Kappa.
 
"William & Mary has a legacy of excellence in the classroom and in competition, and it has been my honor to shepherd a couple of hundred student-athletes through our program who exceeded those expectations academically and athletically," Heacock said about the young men and women who he recruited and coached.
 
When he reflects on Tribe Track & Field and Cross Country, Heacock said it would be hard to exaggerate the effect Rick Platt '72, a member of W&M's track & field, cross country and swimming teams who has donated almost $9 million to track & field and cross country, has had on the program.  "I've known Rick for a long time, he was around the program when I was an undergrad, and thanks to him we have facilities and funds I never thought we'd have. It can't be overstated what his support has meant, from the new locker room to the Excellence Fund to how he has helped the distance programs, it has been a huge boost."
 
According to Platt, the entire track and cross country program has excelled under Heacock, from sprints to distances, hurdles, jumps, vaults, and the weight events. "William & Mary has been noted for its strong distance running program in cross country and track for decades, but under the leadership of Track Director Alex Heacock, they have similarly excelled this past decade in the track weight events, the shot put, discus, javelin, hammer throw and weight throw, with the expert technical direction of Coach Heacock," he said.
 
Heacock also acknowledges the contributions of longtime supporters Randy ('67, J.D. '70, MLT '71) and Shelby ('67, MA Ed. '75 ) Hawthorne who have provided him with an incredible foundation for his future efforts.  "Randy and Shelby have been spearheading fundraising efforts around the program for many years, and I am fortunate and excited to have the opportunity to build on their amazing work," said Heacock.
 
Maintaining close ties to the program and the student-athletes is a given, Heacock said.  "I think of coaching and working in education as a higher calling.  Helping kids achieve and exceed their goals is an absolute joy. As a young athlete, I was the beneficiary of truly great coaches and their example showed me the impact that coaches can have on young people in their formative years," he said. "At William & Mary we've been so fortunate to have wonderful coaches on our staff that have mentored and led our student-athletes in a first-class manner and I am incredibly grateful for their partnership and loyalty to W&M over the years."

Heacock will move to the Advancement team this summer and the search for his replacement as director of track & field and cross country will begin immediately. The national search for the new director will be led by Kyle Bowlsby, a senior partner at the consulting firm Elevate, and Kaitlyn McKittrick, a principal at Elevate. Persons interested in the position should contact them at TribeXCTrack@oneelevate.com.