Weaverville – A former Weaverville resident and Madison High School graduate has been named to a cross country clinic. East Carolina University cross country head coach Josey Weaver has been designated the cross country clinician for the 73rd Annual North Carolina Coaches Association clinic, which was scheduled for Monday through Wednesday of this week at the Greensboro Coliseum.
According to a press release from East Carolina, “The event represents North Carolina’s largest coaching clinic where high school coaches from all over the state attend to expand their knowledge on their desired sport.”
“This has been a lifelong goal of mine since I attended the clinic with my dad,” Weaver said. “My childhood was unique and allowed me to experience firsthand how a coach can mold the lives of others. I feel truly honored to be chosen for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to speaking with coaches from all over the state and giving them an inside look at what we do here at East Carolina University.”
Weaver has coached 16 all-conference performers during his five-plus seasons with the East Carolina Pirates. “His athletes have produced numerous school records and program top-10 results. Notably, he coached Stefano Migliorati who advanced to the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships before finishing 20th nationally in the 800-meter run,” said the release.
According to background information about Weaver found on the Pirates’ website he “enters his fifth year as the men’s and women’s cross country/track and field distance coach at East Carolina University in 2020. During the Cross Country/Indoor/Outdoor seasons, Weaver’s athletes have enjoyed a lot of success. Weaver’s group has now posted 15 all-conference performances in his three years with the program (5-XC, 3-Indoor, 7-Outdoor). Along with that, his group has broken 11 school records, added 73 new Top-10 All-Time performances, qualified four individuals to the NCAA East Prelims, and most notably qualified Stefano Migliorati to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. where he finished 20th in the nation.”
Weaver came to East Carolina after two years as the cross country coach “at Butler Community College in El Dorado, KS, where he mentored the distance runners and pole-vault athletes. He was responsible for producing 14 All-American selections in 16 events, 42 All-Region honorees, 26 national event qualifiers and 12 regional champions as well as a two-time national runner up in the pole vault.”
Weaver was selected to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association in 2015. He was also Central Region Coach of the Year for women’s cross country as well as the Region VI Coach of the Year.
During his athletic career at Madison High School, he was a three-time high school State Champion (3200m, XC, PV). Then as a student-athlete at Western Carolina University, “Weaver set the school records in the indoor track 5K and the cross country 8K distances. He earned a trio of All-Southern Conference honors, including first-team recognition as a junior. Weaver was also an Academic All-American all four years of his collegiate career.”
Besides coaching, “Weaver worked as Instructor of Health and Physical Education at West Buncombe Elementary (2013-14) and North Buncombe Elementary (2014). He owns USA Track and Field Level I certification as well as certification by the USTFCCCA. Weaver earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Western Carolina in 2012 before completing requirements for a Master of Arts in education from WCU in 2014.”
Above Photo: East Carolina Coach Josey Weaver talks with a student athlete. Photo courtesy of East Carolina.