EDINBURG, Texas – The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Tuesday that they have dropped that interim tag and promoted Xavier Richardson to head coach of the track and field and cross country teams effective immediately.
 
Richardson had been the interim head coach since January 17, after spending three cross country seasons and two track and field seasons as an assistant coach.
 
“Xavier has been an invaluable member of the track & field and cross country programs for the past three years as an assistant coach. Upon becoming the interim head coach in January, Xavier has shown strong leadership and management skills in the oversight of our student-athletes and two assistant coaches. His preparation in coaching, recruitment, rules compliance, academic integrity, and the administrative side of the job has led myself and the senior athletics staff to recommend him as the next head coach for the Broncs track and field and cross country programs,” UTPA Director of Athletics Chris King said.
 
The Broncs have had strong indoor and outdoor track and field seasons under Richardson, as 10 student-athletes have broken in the top five in program history in their events, including two new program records in the indoor women's 60-meter hurdles and one in the outdoor men's distance medley relay.
 
The Broncs have also had 17 individual first place finishes during the indoor and outdoor seasons.
 
“It has been a pleasure being a part of this program thus far and seeing the growth in recent years. I am even more so excited about being a part of this program with the direction we are headed in now. To be at the helm of the ship during this transition is a great pleasure and a privilege, and I thank Mr. King for the opportunity to do so,” Richardson said.
 
“Our goal is always to first look to promote from within the department, and Xavier is a great example of hard work and dedication to Bronc athletics and the University, and is very deserving of this promotion. We are all excited about having Xavier continue our mission of serving the student-athletes in the track & field and cross country programs,” King said
 
Before joining the Broncs, Richardson spent two seasons as an assistant coach at his alma matter, the University of Virginia. While earning a master's of education in exercise physiology, Richardson helped to lead the Cavaliers to their first ever ACC co-conference championship in 2009.
 
Prior to that, Richardson coached for two years at James Monroe High School in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he worked with sprinters, hurdlers, horizontal jumpers and relay teams. His time there resulted in two repeat team district titles, a team regional championship, and a team state runner-up finish.
 
A 2002 graduate of UVA with a bachelor of arts in psychology, Richardson earned varsity letters for each of his four years of competition, and was at one point on the UVA all-time performance list in the 60-meter dash.
 
Richardson holds a USATF Level I and Level II certification in sprints, hurdles and relays.
 
The search for two full-time assistant coaches will begin immediately.
 
The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics competes at the NCAA Division I classification. UTPA, formerly known as Pan American College and Pan American University, is a part of the University of Texas System of Schools. The Broncs compete in 14 varsity sports; men's and women's basketball, golf, tennis, track and field, and cross country, along with women's volleyball and men's baseball. In 1963, then known as Pan American College, the Broncs men's basketball program won the NAIA National Championship with a 73-62 victory over Western Carolina. In 2008, UTPA joined the new all-sports division of the Great West Conference.