Jun 14, 2007

Lovell steps down as track and field coach, assistant athletic director

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - The head men's and women's track and field coach and assistant director of athletics at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is stepping down.

Devlyn Lovell, who served as head coach and assistant athletic director for the past season, has resigned. He will become the Head Boys' and Girls' cross country and track and field coach and Director of Athletics at Antonian College Preparatory High School in San Antonio, Texas this fall.

During the past season, Lovell led both the men's and women's track and field teams to second place finishes in the Little East Conference. Senior Jon Garcia (Stoneham, MA/Stoneham HS) was the NCAA Division III outdoor champion in the 110 meter hurdles, and junior Katie Malloy (Agawam, MA/Agawam HS) nearly qualified for the NCAAs in the high jump.

Lovell, a native of San Antonio, was the Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach at Antonian HS for eight years, beginning in 1996. He led Antonian to two boys' class 5A cross country championships and one girls' class 5A state cross country title, was named Boys' Cross Country Coach of the Week by ESPN in 1999, San Antonio Sports Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2001, and was inducted into the Antonian High School Hall of Fame in 2004. He was the head cross country and track and field coach at the College of the Southwest for two years before joining the Corsairs last September.

"UMass Dartmouth was a great experience," said Lovell. "I really enjoyed the school, the people I worked with, and the team, but there are times that you get opportunities that you can't pass up. Being able to go home and coach is a chance that doesn't come around very often, and I thought this was a great opportunity. I'm sure that UMass Dartmouth will continue their success, and I wish them all the best."

"We feel very fortunate that we had Mr. Lovell here at UMass Dartmouth, helping our track and field program grow and become competitive within our conference," said UMass Dartmouth Director of Athletics Louise Goodrum. "We wish him success and hope that he continues his passion for his athletes and his sport as he displayed here at UMass Dartmouth."