CLEVELAND, Miss. -- After 18 seasons leading the Delta State University Lady Statesmen cross country program, Doug Pinkerton announced that he is stepping down from his role as head coach.

"It has truly been an honor to wear the Green & White as a head coach here at DSU and in the GSC, and it is something that I will treasure forever," Pinkerton said. "I will not be leaving DSU, but will continue on with my other responsibilities as Director of HPER Facilities, Operations, and Programming."

Since Pinkerton took over the reigns of the program in 2003, the Lady Statesmen have seen steady improvements toward being a contender in the Gulf South Conference and the NCAA Southeast Region.

"Our Lady Statesmen cross country program has been in good hands under Doug's direction since he began his coaching career here," said Athletic Director Mike Kinnison. "He has consistently recruited quality student-athletes, and we greatly appreciate the values and priorities that he has instilled in the program."

Delta State finished 10th at the 2020 GSC Championships, led by Bailey Pounds' 63rd place finish at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala. The Lady Statesmen also dropped their team average by over 40 seconds from 2019's championships to the 2020 edition of the meet. 

"It doesn't seem that long ago when I think back to when Dr. Jim Jordan came to my office in the Fall of 2002 and asked me if I would be interested in coaching cross for DSU," said Pinkerton. "I was shocked, a little intimidated, but very excited about the opportunity. There was a lot of work to be done and a lot to learn as well, but we hit the ground running and one of my greatest memories is us winning our first meet, with me as the head coach, back in the Fall of 2003 at West Florida."

Pinkerton has coached a plethora of standout student-athletes, including Sarah Mumme in 2018. That 2018 season saw Mumme, under Pinkerton's leadership, run the second-fastest 5K time in school history (18:47) at the University of Arkansas Little Rock Invitational. She also earned All GSC Honors after she finished 19th overall  at the GSC Championships with a time of 19:00.

Mumme also won the Charles S. Kerg senior student-athlete award as DSU's top female student-athlete. She was also nominated and chosen among the GSC TOp Ten Athletes for the 2018-19 season. Mumme became the second Kerg Award winner under Pinkerton, after Annalee Pierce won the Kerg Award, was a GSC Top Ten honoree, and was nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year in 2014. 

Delta State's highest finish at Regionals under Pinkerton's leadership came in 2012, when the Lady Statesmen finished fifth overall as a team at the NCAA South Regional meet. That 2012 season was also the first year for the program to have two All-Region runners named to their team, Stacey Hagenson and Alyssa Shetley. A year earlier, in 2011, the Lady Statesmen had their highest finish ever (2nd) at the GSC Championships and reached their highest ever NCAA II South Regional ranking (third). 

Pinkerton's tenure has seen the Lady Statesmen establish a long list of firsts, including the program's first-ever NCAA Regional ranking in 2005 and first All-GSC selection in Kristin Williams in 2006. The program also notched its first GSC Freshman Runner of the Year and All-Region pick in 2010, as Stacey Hagenson captured that honor and All-GSC and NCAA All-Southeast Region honors that same season.  

"There are so many great memories and successes over the last 18 years, and I will cherish them forever," Pinkerton said. "My goals were to lead this program to the best of my ability to be as competitive as possible, try to win a GSC Championship, hold high academic standards, recruit quality student-athletes that would positively represent DSU, and leave the program in a better position. I'm proud of what we accomplished."

A native of Greenville, Pinkerton graduated from Mississippi State in 1993 with a degree in physical education and a concentration in teaching and coaching education. He began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach for the legendary Lloyd Clark at Delta State University in 1997 after spending four years coaching several sports at the high school level. While coaching with Clark, Pinkerton earned a Master of Education in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. 

"I have had some great assistant coaches and athletes during my tenure here and they are the reason we were able to accomplish all that we did," said Pinkerton. "I can't say thank everyone enough for the support I received from all the Athletic Department staff, Athletic Training staffs, and of course the glue that held us all together all these years in Mrs. Kim Pongetti."

Pinkerton also serves as the Director of HPER Facilities, Operations, and Programming and is part-time Instructor in the HPER department, among other duties he serves on campus. Pinkerton will continue on in those roles at Delta State.