Gadsden, AL – Gadsden State Community College has announced the promotion of Jackson Millander to head coach of its cross country team. Millander, who previously served as the team’s assistant coach, brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to his new role.
“I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to continue working with a great group of athletes at Gadsden State,” Millander said. “I’m excited about the new season.”
Millander, a native of Hokes Bluff, has been an integral part of the cross country staff since May 2022. While completing his undergraduate studies at Jacksonville State University, he started as an assistant coach under then-coach Roseanne Green. In this capacity, Millander played a crucial role in developing training plans, overseeing strength and conditioning, leading recruiting efforts, managing travel logistics, and organizing fundraisers.
During the tenure of Green and Millander, the Gadsden State Cross Country Team experienced significant success. The program was reinstated in 2022 after being disbanded in 2011. In their inaugural season, the women’s team finished fourth at the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Region 22 Cross Country Championship and qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Cross Country Championship, where they placed 24th.
In 2023, the women’s team again finished fourth at regionals, with standout runner Jordan Clark finishing sixth overall and being named to the All-Conference Team. Clark, who finished eighth in 2022, has signed with Dalton State College to continue her running career. The Lady Cardinals achieved a 21st-place finish at the national competition in Huntsville.
The men’s team also saw success, finishing sixth at regionals for the second consecutive year. Lane Griffin notably finished 15th out of 90 runners and was named ACCC Player of the Week in October. The men’s team finished 31st at the national competition.
“Both of the men’s and women’s teams were ranked in the Top 25 throughout the season in the NJCAA Division II Coaches Poll,” Millander said. “They competed at a high level, and I expect nothing less this year.”
Millander’s coaching experience extends beyond cross country. He served as a student manager for JSU’s women’s basketball team, eventually rising to the rank of head manager. He also held the head manager position for the women’s basketball team at Shelton State Community College, where he earned an Associate of Science degree in May 2022. These roles provided him with invaluable experience in operations, event management, and administrative duties.
Millander will officially start team workouts on August 1, with the first race set for August 30 at the JSU Foothills Invitational in Oxford. He will oversee seven runners on the men’s team, including five returners, and six runners on the women’s team, with only one returner.
“I’m excited to build on the success we have had over the past two seasons,” he said. “We have a great group of returning sophomores and a very talented group of incoming freshmen. I’m hoping to see more records broken this year.”
In preparation for the upcoming season, Millander and the team are planning an on-campus running clinic on July 25, open to students in grades 7-12. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Gadsden State runners and coaches will provide instruction on basic and advanced workouts, as well as tips for improvement.
“We want to help all runners – new and experienced – take their running to the next level,” Millander said.
Cross country coaches are encouraged to attend the clinic free of charge and should email j[email protected] to register. Camper check-in and same-day registration will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. in the Beck Gymnasium on the Wallace Drive Campus. Those who sign up by June 25 will receive a camp t-shirt. Jeremy Provence, JSU’s cross country coach, will speak during lunch, which is provided to all participants.
To register for the clinic, visit GoCardinals.gadsdenstate.edu.
