Stetson University Athletics

Stetson University announced two-time national high school coach of the year honoree Kristin McWilliams as head coach of the Hatters' men's and women's cross country programs on July 1, 2024… Has continued to elevate both programs through individualized training, athlete development and a growing emphasis on year-round distance competition. McWilliams will also lead Stetson's new NCAA Division I distance-focused outdoor track program, which was announced in February 2026 and will begin official competition in the 2027 outdoor season… The addition provides continuity between the cross country and outdoor track seasons while expanding competitive opportunities for Stetson's distance student-athletes. McWilliams has continued to raise the competitive standard of Stetson's cross country programs since arriving in DeLand… The 2025 season became one of the strongest in program history, with both the men's and women's teams producing record-setting performances. Freshman Hannah Judge rewrote the women's record book throughout the fall… Judge set the program's all-time 5K record with a time of 17:33.4 at the ASUN Championship before closing her freshman season with a 21:37 performance at the NCAA South Regional to establish the program's 6K record. On the men's side, Stetson recorded the fastest team average in program history at the ASUN Championship before finishing 22nd at the NCAA South Regional. Stetson carried that momentum into the 2026 season with another historic performance in the season opener at the Florida Intercollegiate Invitational in Jacksonville. Sophomore Jonathan Pena broke Stetson's men's cross country 5K school record with a time of 15:07, surpassing a mark that had stood for seven years… The men's team finished fourth overall and placed ahead of Miami, marking the program's first-ever victory over a regionally ranked opponent. Junior transfer Mizah Mizell also made an immediate impact in her Stetson debut, running 18:02 in the women's 5K to finish eighth overall… Her performance ranks fifth all-time in program history. Stetson announced the addition of an NCAA Division I distance-focused outdoor track program in February 2026, expanding competitive opportunities for the University's men's and women's cross country student-athletes. Competition will officially begin with the 2027 outdoor season… McWilliams will serve as head coach of the program, providing continuity in leadership, training and student-athlete development across the cross country and outdoor track seasons. The new program formalizes a training model that has already included spring track competition and will provide Stetson student-athletes with opportunities to compete for ASUN Conference titles and qualify for NCAA postseason competition at the Division I level. Individual development has been a major part of McWilliams' impact at Stetson… In addition to Judge's 5K and 6K records during the 2025 cross country season, the Hatters continued producing strong performances during spring track competition. At the 2026 Black & Gold Challenge, Robbie Champa ran 3:57 in the 1500m to move into second all-time in program history… Hannah Judge finished runner-up in the women's 5K with a time of 17:40, while Lucy Marquart posted a personal-best 18:00.11 to place fifth… Zeke Galbraith added a third-place finish in the men's 2K steeplechase with a time of 6:08. Prior to Stetson, McWilliams spent 15 years leading the cross country and track programs at Winter Park High School, establishing herself as one of the nation's most accomplished high school distance coaches… Guided her cross country teams to three state championships, two state runner-up finishes and nine regional championships. During her tenure, McWilliams coached three individual cross country state champions, a Foot Locker National finalist and a two-time Nike Cross Nationals finalist… Her success extended to track, where she led her team to a state runner-up finish while coaching eight individual state champions, six state championship relay teams and the state record holder in the girls mile. McWilliams was named Girls Cross Country National Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association in 2024 and by the National Federation of State High School Associations in 2015. She earned six state coach of the year honors throughout her career and received national coach of the year nominations in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2024. McWilliams has also held leadership roles at the national level, including serving as the National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Sports Chairman for Boys and Girls Cross Country. In addition to her 15 years at Winter Park, McWilliams has led cross country and track programs at Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa and Robinson High School in Tampa… Her coaching career spans more than two decades and includes extensive success across both cross country and track. Her coaching philosophy has centered on individualized training, long-term development and helping student-athletes grow as both competitors and leaders. McWilliams earned both her bachelor's degree and master's degree in accounting from the University of Florida. McWilliams resides in Altamonte Springs, Fla.