WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — William & Mary Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Adam Smith announced the addition of two accomplished coaches with championship-level experience to the Tribe staff. Chris Fox joins the program as assistant coach — distance, while Shannon Malone will serve as assistant coach and director of operations.

Fox brings a distinguished coaching résumé spanning more than three decades, highlighted by an NCAA national championship, National Coach of the Year honors and extensive success at the conference and national levels. Malone arrives in Williamsburg with experience as a coach and professional athlete, including stops at Boston College, Syracuse and the Reebok Boston Track Club. Together, the pair brings championship experience, national-level perspective and a strong background in student-athlete development to William & Mary.

"I'm extremely excited to add Coach Fox to our staff," Smith said. "It's not every day you get a chance to add a National Coach of the Year to the department. The results, the championships and the experience he brings are second to none, and our student-athletes here at William & Mary will get to be coached by one of the best to ever do it. I am honored to be able to work alongside Coach again, as he's been extremely influential in my career, and know he will make an immediate impact the moment he steps foot on campus. Go Tribe!"

Fox brings decades of collegiate and professional coaching experience to Williamsburg, highlighted by a highly successful tenure as the head coach of men's cross country and track & field at Syracuse from 2005-18. He transformed the Orange into a national power, leading Syracuse to the 2015 NCAA Men's Cross Country Championship and earning USTFCCCA National Coach of the Year honors.

During his tenure, Fox guided Syracuse to nine conference championships and coached more than 60 track & field All-Americans along with 31 cross country All-Americans. He also coached multiple individual NCAA champions, including Justyn Knight, who won the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championship and indoor 5,000m national title, and Jarret Eaton, who captured the 2012 NCAA indoor 60m hurdles championship.

Following his first stint at Syracuse, Fox co-founded and led the Reebok Boston Track Club from 2018-23. He coached athletes on the international stage, including Knight, who placed seventh at the Tokyo Olympics, along with World Indoor Championships and European Championships competitors. Fox returned to Syracuse in 2023 as an assistant coach working primarily with the Orange's distance runners.

Fox's connection with Smith dates back to their time at Syracuse before the pair helped found the Reebok Boston Track Club in 2018.

"I am honored to be able to coach at William & Mary with my friend, Head Coach and Director Adam Smith," Fox said. "William & Mary is a historic and respected university. The cross country and track program has that same prestige, too, and we want to build on those values. Great things can happen."

A 1983 Auburn graduate, Fox competed as a distance runner for the Tigers before beginning a coaching career that also included stops at his alma mater, North Carolina and George Washington.

Malone arrives in Williamsburg after spending the 2025-26 season as an assistant cross country and track & field coach and director of operations at Boston College. With the Eagles, Malone worked with the men's and women's distance runners while overseeing day-to-day program operations, including travel, budgets, compliance, equipment, camps and scheduling.

"Shannon Malone is one of the best young coaches in this sport," Smith said. "I've watched her grow from a student-athlete to a tremendous coach at the Division I level. She has made a positive impact everywhere she has been, and I look forward to getting a chance to be on the same sidelines as her here at William & Mary. Her experience elevating both programs at Boston College and Syracuse makes her an incredible fit for our role here, and she will be vital to our team's success here in Williamsburg."

Prior to Boston College, Malone spent two seasons on the coaching staff at her alma mater, Syracuse. Working primarily with the Orange distance runners, Malone helped Syracuse's men's cross country team win the 2024 NCAA Northeast Regional while the women's team finished second. She also assisted with recruiting and program operations.

Malone was a standout distance runner during her collegiate career at Syracuse. A two-time All-ACC performer in cross country and three-time All-ACC honoree on the track, she won the 2018 NCAA Northeast Regional cross country title and finished among the top 60 at the NCAA Championships. Following her collegiate career, Malone competed professionally as a member of the Reebok Boston Track Club from 2019-23.

"I'm incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the William & Mary track & field and cross country program," Malone said. "This is a special program with a strong tradition, and I'm looking forward to working with our staff and student-athletes and being part of what we're building here in Williamsburg."

Fox and Malone join Smith's staff alongside Tommy Barrineau, associate head coach, and Steve Belanger, assistant coach — sprints/hurdles. William & Mary is currently conducting a search for its throws coach, with an announcement to follow upon completion of the search.