Dustin Stewart enters his first season as Assistant Cross Country and Track & Field Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne. In this role he is tasked with coaching the distance and mid-distance events.
During his first season of coaching cross country with the Bears the program saw two All-Conference and two All-Region athletes. The men’s side saw Liam Sutton claim the Elite 23 title, which is awarded to the male athlete with highest GPA at the SAC Championships. The Men’s side of the program also achieved their highest place finish for an individual at the NCAA DII Cross Country National Championship meet with Jacob Parkinson finishing 62nd.
He joins the Bears after a short stint with the Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University, where he coached the mid-distance program, as well as high jump. While at JCSU he was tasked with reestablishing the distance programs. He coached two school records in the men’s indoor 5k, as well as the men’s outdoor high jump. The men’s outdoor high jump mark also achieved the NCAA DII provisional mark.
Before his time at JCSU, Stewart served as an assistant sprints and hurdles coach at Queen’s University of Charlotte. During his time with Queens, Stewart coached Mark Schittenhelm, who was a SAC Conference Champion and national qualifier in the 400m hurdles in 2022. The following year he became the first male athlete for Queen’s track & field to earn All Conference at the Division 1 level; earning 3rd place at the ASUN Outdoor Championships. In addition, Stewart also coached four other school records in the Men’s 60m, 100m, and both indoor and outdoor 200 meter events.
Stewart's first coaching stint, and longest tenured position, was at his ama mater of Belmont Abbey College. While at The Abbey he was in control of all sprints, hurdles, jumps, and throwing events. During his time at Belmont Abbey Stewart coached 26 School Records, 14 All-Conference athletes, eight individual conference champions, and five NCAA Division II Provisional marks. He was also influential in the growth of the program, growing roster size from 25 athletes to 55 athletes in his first season.
