HICKORY, N.C. - Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Bob Braman has brought on Rachel Starr and Ethan Stamey to help coach distance for the upcoming XC/T&F seasons. 

Starr joins the staff following stints as the Director of Track & Field at Camp Skylemar in Maine, the Interim Head Club Cross Country & Track Coach at the University of Delaware, and the Head Cross Country & Track Coach at Bayside High School in Palm Bay, Florida. 

As the head coach at Bayside High School, Starr coached the first and second state champion athletes in program history, as well as the first Nike All-American in school history. In just the 2024 season alone, she helped lead the team to 11 school records. 

An accomplished athlete in her own right, Starr is a former 2x NJCAA All-American in the 5,000m (XC) and the half marathon, becoming the first individual in Eastern Florida State College history to achieve that feat. Her talents led her to the University of Delaware where she became a team captain and holds three program top-10 marks. 

Originally from Palm Bay, Florida, Starr earned her B.A. in Organizational Management from Eastern Florida State College in June of 2024, her Masters in International Business Studies from the University of Delaware in June of 2025, and he Masters in Hospitality & Sport Business Analytics from the University of Delaware in May of 2026. 

Stamey comes to LR after competing at Montreat College, just an NAIA institution just west of Hickory. He was a 4x NAIA All-American and nine time national qualifier, placing 3rd in the 2025 NAIA Indoor 5000m with a time of 14:16.82. In addition to his success on the track, Stamey was a 5x Dean's list honoree and held a 3.5 cumulative GPA over the course of his four years.

He is originally from Franklin, North Carolina, and is a graduate of Franklin High School.