Dillard to Join Liberty Track & Field Coaching Staff
8/29/2023 10:56:00 AM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Former Abilene Christian associate head coach Kristian Dillard has joined the Liberty track & field coaching staff as an assistant, where he will reunite with Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Lance Bingham. Dillard will primarily work with the Flames' sprinters.
Dillard spent the last five years (2018-23) as a full-time assistant at Abilene Christian, the first two of which were spent under Bingham's direction. Dillard coached the Wildcats' sprinters, assisted with the multi-event athletes and oversaw weight training for the sprinters, jumpers and distance runners.
"At Liberty we trust that the Lord is leading and guiding our program," stated Bingham. "For 17 years we have been blessed with Pete McFadden as he coached and mentored our athletes and are excited for him as he begins a new chapter in his life.
"We are very thankful that the Lord had a plan for Pete's replacement in allowing Kristian and his family (wife Aleah and daughter Charlie Anne) to join us here at Liberty. I am thankful for the opportunity to work with Kristian (KD) again, as I have watched him excel as a coach but more importantly impact many lives for the Kingdom. He and Aleah have a heart for ministry, and they desire to make a difference in the lives the Lord allows them to influence. KD brings expertise, energy and a commitment to serve Christ, which makes him the perfect fit for our team as we continue to develop our program to the highest level."
Dillard helped coach Abilene Christian to its first-ever Southland Conference women's indoor track & field team title in 2021. That meet saw Taylor Tolen race to the women's 200 title, her first of five individual conference victories. Tolen, who improved her 100 time from 12.04 in high school to 11.34 at ACU, also led the Wildcats to the 2022 WAC women's 4 x 100 relay crown.
On the men's side, Dillard also oversaw a considerable amount of relay success. Abilene Christian clocked 3:07.76 for third place at the 2019 Texas Relays 4 x 400 during a stretch of three straight Southland 4 x 400 titles for the Wildcats (2019 indoor, 2019 outdoor and 2020 indoor). Most recently, ACU took fourth place in the 2023 Texas Relays men's 4 x 200 final.
Dillard also helped guide JJ Ply to an eighth-place finish in the decathlon at the 2022 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Ply became Abilene Christian's first-ever first team All-American at the NCAA Division I level and recorded a personal-best score of 7,857 at the 2022 Mt. SAC Relays.
Dillard served as a volunteer assistant at Abilene Christian during 2017-18, the year he and wife Aleah first arrived in Abilene to work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Prior to that, the Dillards worked for FCA in El Paso, Texas from 2014-16.
A native of Argyle, Texas, Dillard was a sprinter for the UTEP men's track & field team for two seasons (2012 and 2013). He helped UTEP claim the team title at the 2013 Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and made two NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round appearances (2012 – 4 x 100 and 2013 – 200). Dillard's top times included 10.74 (100), 21.26 (200) and 48.62 (400).
Dillard replaces Andrew "Pete" McFadden, who was recently hired as James Madison's head track & field coach after coaching Liberty's sprinters for 17 years (2006-23).
Dillard spent the last five years (2018-23) as a full-time assistant at Abilene Christian, the first two of which were spent under Bingham's direction. Dillard coached the Wildcats' sprinters, assisted with the multi-event athletes and oversaw weight training for the sprinters, jumpers and distance runners.
"At Liberty we trust that the Lord is leading and guiding our program," stated Bingham. "For 17 years we have been blessed with Pete McFadden as he coached and mentored our athletes and are excited for him as he begins a new chapter in his life.
"We are very thankful that the Lord had a plan for Pete's replacement in allowing Kristian and his family (wife Aleah and daughter Charlie Anne) to join us here at Liberty. I am thankful for the opportunity to work with Kristian (KD) again, as I have watched him excel as a coach but more importantly impact many lives for the Kingdom. He and Aleah have a heart for ministry, and they desire to make a difference in the lives the Lord allows them to influence. KD brings expertise, energy and a commitment to serve Christ, which makes him the perfect fit for our team as we continue to develop our program to the highest level."
Dillard helped coach Abilene Christian to its first-ever Southland Conference women's indoor track & field team title in 2021. That meet saw Taylor Tolen race to the women's 200 title, her first of five individual conference victories. Tolen, who improved her 100 time from 12.04 in high school to 11.34 at ACU, also led the Wildcats to the 2022 WAC women's 4 x 100 relay crown.
On the men's side, Dillard also oversaw a considerable amount of relay success. Abilene Christian clocked 3:07.76 for third place at the 2019 Texas Relays 4 x 400 during a stretch of three straight Southland 4 x 400 titles for the Wildcats (2019 indoor, 2019 outdoor and 2020 indoor). Most recently, ACU took fourth place in the 2023 Texas Relays men's 4 x 200 final.
Dillard also helped guide JJ Ply to an eighth-place finish in the decathlon at the 2022 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Ply became Abilene Christian's first-ever first team All-American at the NCAA Division I level and recorded a personal-best score of 7,857 at the 2022 Mt. SAC Relays.
Dillard served as a volunteer assistant at Abilene Christian during 2017-18, the year he and wife Aleah first arrived in Abilene to work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Prior to that, the Dillards worked for FCA in El Paso, Texas from 2014-16.
A native of Argyle, Texas, Dillard was a sprinter for the UTEP men's track & field team for two seasons (2012 and 2013). He helped UTEP claim the team title at the 2013 Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and made two NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round appearances (2012 – 4 x 100 and 2013 – 200). Dillard's top times included 10.74 (100), 21.26 (200) and 48.62 (400).
Dillard replaces Andrew "Pete" McFadden, who was recently hired as James Madison's head track & field coach after coaching Liberty's sprinters for 17 years (2006-23).
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