BOSTON – Paul Spangler has been named head cross country coach at Boston University, as announced by Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Robyne Johnson on Wednesday.
 
Spangler comes to BU after coaching distance runners at Florida for over five years. Since his arrival at Gainesville in January of 2012, Spangler's cross country athletes have earned 21 USTFCCCA All-Region accolades and 16 All-SEC honors, including eight first-team all-conference selections.
 
He led the Florida women to the 2012 SEC Championship to become the first coach in school history to win a league title in his debut season. The Gators later advanced to the NCAA Women's Cross Country Championship for the 12^th time in program history.
 
"This is a great hire for our program," Johnson said. "Paul is an experienced coach and recruiter. We are very pleased to be able to add such a great coach and mentor to our staff."
 
In addition to his success in cross country, Spangler has also guided athletes to outstanding achievements on the track. At Florida, his Gators earned 36 USTFCCCA All-America plaudits. He also coached two USTFCCCA South Region Women's Track Athletes of the Year and Gator distance runners have earned three national runner-up finishes at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
 
Spangler has also coached two Olympians and three Gators that competed at IAAF World Championships in either track or cross country. Most recently, Spangler coached Eddie Garcia, the U.S. Virgin Islands record holder in the indoor and outdoor 5,000 meters, indoor 3,000 meters, and outdoor 10,000 meters to a berth in the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
 
A native of Brooksville, Florida, Spangler graduated from the University of Alabama in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in education before earning his master's degree in sports administration while coaching at Florida State. He spent four seasons as an assistant with the Seminoles before becoming the head cross country coach and assistant track & field coach at the Virginia Military Institute in 2002.  
 
Spangler's appointment comes after longtime distance coach Bruce Lehane announced his retirement following a legendary career of over 35 years at BU. Lehane, who will be inducted into the Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame in November, coached 50 All-Americans, two NCAA Division I national champions and two Olympians. BU named the Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invitational after Lehane in February in honor of his incredible contributions to the Terrier track and field program.