Updated 5/15/24
Marshall Leonard is in his third year as the head men’s and women’s cross country coach at the University of South Carolina Aiken.
The 2023 teams featured a plethora of talent for Leonard. His men’s team posted the top two marks in school history in the 8k with Julia Rojas garnering the school record with a time of 27:17.32. Riley Campbell’s 10k time of 35:26.6 also established a school mark. On the women’s side, Tess Studley provided the program’s best-ever 5k mark while Taylor Joop notched the fifth-best 5k time in school history. Studley’s 6k mark of 24:14.9 at the NCAA Regionals was the second-best effort in program history.
Studley claimed back-to-back PBC Runner of the Week honors while Rojas garnered one award. His women's team earned a top-10 ranking in the Southeast Region during the season (USTFCCCA). The Pacers combined to record three top-five finishes as a team and had multiple top-10 finishes during the 2023 season. His student-athletes accounted for 17 personal-best times.
The USC Aiken men's team tied its best team performance at the PBC Championship and posted its best mark at NCAA Regionals in school history. Throughout the year, his student-athletes accounted for school records in the women's 4k and 5k while the men's team shattered school records in the 6k, 8k and 10k.
During his first season at the helm of the programs, the men's team established multiple school records in the 8k. The men's program also earned its first plaque and had a pair of top-three finishes on the season. The women's squad boasted a pair of top-five efforts, including a third-place effort at the GMC Brickyard Invitational. Each of the student-athletes on the women's side garnered personal-best times during the season.
Leonard, an experienced collegiate head coach, comes to USC Aiken after spending a season at Salem University – a Division II independent – located in Salem, W. Va. Within three weeks of his arrival on campus, Leonard inked 10 student-athletes to the roster. He helped his program establish school records while competing against nationally-ranked opponents.
“I’m extremely excited to take over the men’s and women’s cross country programs as I see a wealth of potential at USC Aiken,” Leonard said. “Between the location, the academic programs, facilities and support from the administration, USC Aiken can be a major player in the running community. “We are going to get it started by creating a family environment inside the program, recruiting talented student-athletes and competing against the best available talent.
“I am honored to have been selected to guide the program into the next phase and I want to express my gratitude toward the hiring committee,” Leonard stated. “During our conversations, it is clear that the running program is a high priority and the school is enthusiastic about building something special.”
Prior to his tenure at Salem University, Leonard spearheaded the cross country and track and field teams at North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, N.C. Competing in the largest Division III league – the USA South Atlantic Conference – Leonard started the men’s cross country program in 2017.
While at NCWC, Leonard guided the men’s team to three cross country invitational wins while his women’s team picked up one invitational victory. He coached eight all-conference cross country runners and 10 all-conference track & field competitors. In the classroom, his student-athletes were standouts as 23 earned all-academic honors.
Leonard also hosted a pair of USA South Cross Country Championships at North Carolina Wesleyan College.
Before coaching at NCWC, he coached at Southampton H.S. There, he produced seven all-region runners. Leonard coached two individual district champions, two team district titles on the girls side, two on the boys side and had 16 all-district runners. He also had seven individual conference champions.
At Nash Central H.S., he led the team to a second-place finish at the state cross country championship. Leonard had three all-state runners and 113 all-state track and field performances.
He holds USA Track & Field Level 1 and Level 2 Certifications with level 2 focus in endurance training.
Leonard spent four years in the United States Navy. His military career saw him achieve recognition as a Quartermaster Second Class Petty Officer.
Leonard holds an associates of science degree from Nash C.C. and a bachelor of science in health and physical education from Barton College.
