GC cross country coach retires after 15 seasons

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Georgia College cross country coach Dr. Joe Samprone is retiring after 15 seasons.

Samprone served as an assistant coach for the Bobcats for two seasons before taking the head coaching position in 2000. He’s coached eight of 11 All-Peach Belt Conference male runners and all six All-PBC female runners, according to a school release.

“I was as happy being the cross country coach as I am in retirement,” Samprone said in a statement. “It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed every minute of it, but now it’s time to move on to other things. Looking back over my time, I’m proud of the achievement of our runners after they left Georgia College; how successful they’ve been in their personal and professional lives. Cross country has alumni that have gone on to remarkable things.”

Under Samprone, the Bobcat men and women have been PBC Runners-Up (men in 2009 and women in 2006). The coach took the conference’s coach of the year honor in 2007.

A news conference is scheduled for Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Donahoo Lounge of the Maxwell Student Union to celebrate Samprone’s career and announce the program’s new head coach.