MACON, Ga.- Middle Georgia State University and Director of Athletics Michael Brown are pleased to announce John Green as the first full-time head coach for the Knights women's cross country program. Green will begin his duties at MGA on Monday, March 3^rd.

An outstanding collegiate and amateur runner in his own right, Green will also assume the head coaching role for the Universities newly formed distance track team which will begin competition in the Spring of 26'. Knights Athletics are set to make the transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II and the Peach Belt Conference pending acceptance this summer into the NCAA membership process.

Green most recently served as the head coach at another NCAA Division II program in Georgia College and State University where he helped lead the Bobcats program first as a volunteer assistant before being elevated to head coach between 2021-23.

Now he will take on the challenge of invigorating the MGA programs with new life and recruiting the next group of outstanding student-athletes to take part in the Knights program. This includes utilizing the recently expanded and improved home course for the Knights, the Georgia Premier Cross Country Course on the Macon campus.

"I'm excited to bring in the quality of professional and person that is John Green to this role as MGA embarks on a new path forward with our cross country and distance track program," said Brown.

"His experience in developing young athletes in their craft as well as the reputation he brings in caring for them beyond the cross country course or track made him a very attractive candidate for us as we look to make our mark at the next level with our distance running programs," continued Brown.

Prior to entering the collegiate coaching ranks Green is not far removed from competing himself as he was a member of two NCAA Division I programs in Lipscomb University (2016-18) and the University of Tennessee-Martin (2018-21). Green competed in cross country and track for both institutions while earning trips to the NCAA South Regional each season.
He would go on to set the freshman 10,000 meter record at Lipscomb while contributing as part of the Atlantic Sun Conference championship team in 2017. While at UTM, he assisted the team in reaching their highest ever finish in the Ohio Valley Conference championship meet in program history in 2021.

"I am thrilled to be coaching cross country and distance track at MGA," said Green.

"I believe that there is a unique opportunity for something special here and I'm grateful to Michael Brown and MGA Athletics for investing in the cross country program. I'm looking forward to seeing what we can build in the coming years," continued Green.

Green's passion for his sport helped lead him to his area of study as he earned a bachelor's degree in Health & Human Performance from UT-Martin.

A native of Cumming, Georgia, Green competed in cross country and track at West Forsyth High School where he was a two-time All-State selection and three-time All-Region pick while setting school records in the 5K, 3200 meters, and 1600 meters.

Green remains an active member of the running community as he finished in the top-100 of the men's division of the 2023 Boston Marathon and competes regularly in local and regional races.  

John is married to his wife, Madison and they reside in Milledgeville, Georgia.