THOMASVILLE — Thomas University Director of Athletics Mike Lee has hired Scott Hutchinson to lead the Night Hawks men’s and women’s cross country and track programs, beginning in the 2019-20 academic year, the TU Department of Athletics announced Friday.

“Scott Hutchinson brings a wealth of coaching knowledge to Thomas University athletics as we begin our inaugural cross country and track seasons,” said Lee. “We know his experience in launching programs will help TU establish a strong foothold in the cross country and track communities. We are thrilled to welcome Scott to the Night Hawks family.”

Hutchinson has been coaching cross country and track at the collegiate level for more than three decades, including 16 seasons at Babson College and eight years at the University of Southern Maine. Most recently, Hutchinson was the head coach at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine in Standish, Maine.

“I am truly blessed and honored in being named the head cross country and track coach at Thomas University,” said Hutchinson. “I can’t thank AD Mike Lee, Associate AD Ricky Zambrano and the search committee of Dr. Bob Bohman, Brandee Zambrano and Rick Pearce enough for this incredible opportunity. I look forward to the recruiting process and bringing in well-rounded young men and women that will be a great fit for the new cross country and track programs at Thomas University and will excel academically and athletically, represent our programs in the right way and make a positive difference in society.”

The veteran skipper has earned 14 Coach of the Year accolades and was listed as a New England Coach of the Year candidate on five occasions. Hutchinson has led his teams to 13 conference titles, two indoor Maine State Championships, and numerous top-10 finishes in the NCAA D-III New England Regional Championships.

During his career, he has groomed an astounding total of 654 All-Conference honorees (83 cross country, 571 indoor/outdoor), 212 NCAA D-III All-New England recipients (20 cross country, 192 track & field), 114 All-ECAC winners (seven cross country, 107 track & field), 30 NCAA Academic All-Americans, and eight NCAA All-Americans. Hutchinson has also led his teams to a total of 14 NCAA Academic All-America honors.

Hutchinson, who holds a USA Track/Field Level 1 certification and is a member of the U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association, has coached seven cross country conference runners of the year, six track and field conference athletes of the year and 14 conference rookies of the year. He has mentored two Maine state collegiate cross country individual champions and 12 Maine all-state collegiate cross country performers.

Hutchinson’s career began at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, his alma mater, in the fall of 1986. Then he moved on to Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., where he was the head cross country and track coach from 1988-2003. He then spent time at Salve Regina University (2003-05) in Newport, R.I.; University of Southern Maine (2005-2013) in Portland, Maine; Marywood University (2013-15) in Scranton, Pa.; University of Maine at Farmington (2015-16) and Saint Joseph’s College (2016-18).

An accomplished athlete at University of Maine at Presque Isle, as a senior Hutchinson qualified for the NAIA National Championship and earned NAIA All-New England honors after finishing eighth with a 24:40 effort at the 8K New England Regional Championship meet. As a standout track and field athlete, Hutchinson recorded a 2:00 performance in the 800-meter run (grass track) and ran the mile in 4:26 (cinder track). He also threw the javelin 178 feet (54.25m). He was a two-time cross country all-conference honoree and was chosen three times as the team’s MVP and captain. Hutchinson was elected to the UMPI Hall of Fame in 2002.

A Carthage, Maine, native, Hutchinson received his bachelor’s of science degree in recreation management from the University of Maine-Presque Isle in 1986. He comes to Thomasville from Gorham, Maine, with his wife Stacie and two children Scott and Samantha.

Thomas University competes in The Sun Conference, part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). TU will partner with Thomas County schools for the use of their track facilities. The Night Hawks currently field 10 athletics teams in baseball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer and men’s and women’s swimming.