University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics

Jim Sprecher is in his second year as the Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach at USCA.

With an extensive and successful coaching career spanning over three decades, Sprecher brings a wealth of experience and impressive credentials to the program.

During his first year with the program’s, the men’s program featured all-PBC runner Daniel Kiprono, marking just the second all-conference performer in program history. The men’s team re-wrote the record book with four of the top five fastest 8k times in school history and the second-fastest 10k time in program history.

The women’s team posted a sixth-place finish at the PBC Championship and turned in numerous good performances throughout the season. Alaynah Guthrie shattered the school record in the 5k by five seconds. Additionally, the team turned in personal-best marks in several meets. 

Sprecher previously worked at the University of Lynchburg where he was the Director of Track and Field and Cross Country. He developed national champions in the DMR and 1,500m. Sprecher produced 43 All-Americans, 128 National Qualifiers, 26 South/Southeast Award Winners and 440 NCAA Division III All-South/Southeast Region student-athletes.

While at Lynchburg, Sprecher had 78 ODAC Award Winners, 244 ODAC Championships and 677 All-ODAC performers. Sprecher coached 106 USTFCCCA Academic All-Americans, five CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and received two USTFCCCA National Awards. Sprecher had eight NCAA Division III National Championship Qualifying Teams, 19 nationally-ranked teams, four region championships, 25 ODAC team championships and 28 Academic All-America Teams. He picked up 15 ODAC Coach of the Year honors, was a four-time NCAA Division III South/Southeast Region Coach of the Year and was tabbed Virginia Coach of the Year 17 times.

Prior to his time at the University of Lynchburg, Sprecher spent over a decade at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. While there, he worked with one USATF National Championship Qualifier, three Division I All-Americans, one Division I Regional Athlete of the Year and five National Qualifiers. Sprecher coached 31 Academic All-Americans, had 24 Academic All-America Teams, five all-region performers, 107 region qualifiers, four IC4A/ECAC Championships and 75 All-East performers. His teams won five CAA titles, and he picked up five CAA Coach of the Year accolades. Sprecher coached 12 CAA Athlete of the Year honorees and had 89 individual CAA Champions to go along with six Penn Relays champions.

While at Ball State, Sprecher coached four All-Americans, eight MAC Champions and six Academic All-Americans. During his first stint at UNCW as the head coach, he worked with two national qualifiers, 19 Penn Relays champions, three CAA team champions, 49 All-East performers, 37 CAA champions and 173 All-CAA athletes while earning four CAA Coach of the Year honors.

Sprecher also spent time at Arkansas College as the head coach, working with two NAIA National Qualifiers. During his time as an assistant coach, Sprecher worked at Louisiana Tech and Wayland Baptist. At Louisiana Tech, he coached three national qualifiers, won two American South Conference Championships and had eight American South Conference champions. Sprecher’s time at Wayland Baptist saw him coach the Men’s and Women’s NAIA Indoor National Champions while working with the NAIA Indoor and Outdoor Most Valuable Athletes. His student-athletes won 17 NAIA National Championships, and he produced 37 NAIA All-Americans and one Drake Relays Most Valuable Athlete.

While as a graduate assistant at Baylor, Sprecher coached 10 All-Americans and eight Southwest Conference Champions. 

Sprecher earned his B.S. in Education, Physical Education and Health Science at Ball State and earned his M.S. in Sports Management from Baylor.