Hood named cross-country and track head coach

Don Hood, formerly the head men’s and women’s cross-country and track and field coach at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, is the new head cross-country and track and field coach for the University. He fills the position formerly held by Steve Guymon, who now coaches at Ouachita Baptist University after 17 seasons at Harding.

“Coach Hood has experienced success across every level of the NCAA and at the high school level in Texas,” athletic director Jeff Morgan said. “Even more important than the success on the track, coach Hood brings a deep desire to make a positive impact on our student-athletes both spiritually and in the classroom.”

A native of Abilene, Texas, Hood coached at LeTourneau for the last two seasons, helping start the program in January 2018. Before LeTourneau, he served as head coach at Brownwood (Texas) High School and Abilene Christian University, where he led the Wildcat men’s program to three straight NCAA Division II outdoor national championships (2006-08) and directed the women’s program to the 2008 outdoor national title.

Prior to his time at ACU, Hood served as an assistant to Wes Kittley at Texas Tech as well as holding positions at Texas State, Sam Houston State University and Temple (Texas) High School.

He earned his master’s at the United States Sports Academy in 1988.

“Words can’t describe how excited I am about this,” Hood said. “Harding is a school that I have known about my whole life and admired my whole life. Even when I was in junior high and high school, I heard about Coach Ted Lloyd and Harding and its track and field and cross-country teams.”

Hood has hired Jessica Withrow as an assistant coach for multi-event athletes, hurdlers and high jumpers. A 2010 graduate of ACU, she comes from Brownwood (Texas) High School where she was the school’s head track and volleyball coach.

Hood’s staff also includes second-year assistant and throws coach Josh Syrotchen.