New cross country coach ready for season, plans clinic for runners
Gadsden, Ala. — Jackson Millander has been promoted to head coach of Gadsden State Community College's Cross Country Team. He previously served as the team's assistant coach.
"I'm grateful to be given the opportunity to continue working with a great group of athletes at Gadsden State," he said. "I'm excited about the new season."
A native of Hokes Bluff, Millander has been part of the cross country staff since May 2022. While still completing his undergraduate studies at Jacksonville State University, he began serving as an assistant coach with then-coach Roseanne Green. In this role, Millander assisted in the creation of summer and in-season training plans, oversaw strength and conditioning, spearheaded recruiting efforts, handled travel logistics and organized fundraisers.
The Gadsen State Cross Country Team had success during Green and Millander's tenure. The College reinstated cross country in 2022 after disbanding it in 2011. During the first season, the women's team finished in fourth place at the Alabama Community College Conference Region 22 Cross Country Championship. They qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Cross Country Championship, where they finished in 24th place.
In 2023, the women's team again finished in fourth place at the regional championship with Jordan Clark finishing sixth overall in the race and being named to the All-Conference Team. She finished in eighth place in 2022. Clark signed with Dalton State College to run with the cross country team this fall. The Lady Cardinals had a 21st-place finish at the national competition held in November in Huntsville.
Also in 2023, the men's team again finished in sixth place at regionals. Lane Griffin finished at 15th against 90 runners. He was also named ACCC Player of the Week in October. The team finished in 31st place at the national competition.
"Both of the men's and women's teams were ranked in the Top 25 throughout the season in the NJCAA Division II Coaches Poll," he said. "They competed at a high level, and I expect nothing less this year."
While serving as an assistant coach at Gadsden State, Millander was also a student manager for JSU's women's basketball team eventually rising to the rank of head manager.
"As manager, I was able to assist in the day-to-day operations of a successful Division I women's basketball team," he said. "I gained immeasurable experience."
Millander was also the head manager for the women's basketball team at Shelton State Community College, where he earned an Associate of Science degree in May 2022. There, he aided in operations, event management and administrative duties.
Millander will officially start team workouts Aug. 1 with the first race being Aug. 30 at the JSU Foothills Invitational in Oxford. He said he has seven runners with five returning on the men's team and six female runners with only one being a returner.
"I'm excited to build on the success we have had over the past two seasons," he said. "We have a great group of returning sophomores and a very talented group of incoming freshmen. I'm hoping to see more records broken this year."
Though workouts don't start until August, Millander and the team are planning an on-campus running clinic. The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 25. It is open to students in grades 7-12.
Gadsden State runners and coaches will teach basic and complex workouts as well as tips to improving.
"We want to help all runners – new and experienced – take their running to the next level," Millander said.
Cross country coaches are encouraged to attend free-of-charge. Coaches wanting to attend should email jmillander@gadsdenstate.edu.
Camper check-in and same-day registration will take place from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. in the Beck Gymnasium on the Wallace Drive Campus. Those who sign-up by June 25 will receive a camp t-shirt.
Jeremy Provence, JSU's cross country coach, will speak during lunch, which is provided to all participants.
Jackson Millander, head coach of Gadsden State Community College's Cross Country Team
