Clayton State University Athletics

A fixture at Clayton State since November of 1990 when he began as public information assistant and sports information director, Mead has served for 25 of his 27 years in the department as assistant director of athletics (1997-2017, 2019-present) and was the Interim Director of Athletics during most of the 2011-12 and the 2022-23 academic year.
 
In July of 2019 he handed the reins of the men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track & field programs to five-time Olympian and four-time medalist Chris Brown. At the same time he returned to the administration as he took on the responsibilities of Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Alumni Engagement while maintaining his coaching duties with men’s and women’s cross country and assisting Brown with track & field.
 
CLAYTON STATE (1990-PRESENT, HEAD COACH)
Mead is in his 29^th season directing the Laker cross country programs in 2022. Under his guidance, the men’s and women’s cross country teams have been competitive in the Peach Belt Conference. The women's team won its first title in 2012 while the men’s team won the 2005 title.
 
Both squads have finished runners-up numerous times, including the women’s second place finish in 2011. The 2012 women's team finished second in the Southeast Regionals to earn its first trip to the NCAA championship meet. Since 2003, the men’s program has had five PBC runner-up finishes and twice finished third at the region championships.
 
In 28 cross country seasons, Mead has coached four All-Americans, including a second place finisher in the NCAA Division II national championships, one region champion, five conference champions, and 21 All-Academic runners in addition to 68 all-conference and 35 All-Region runners.
 
In addition to cross country, Mead also built the Clayton State track and field program from scratch. Since its inception in 1997, a combined 18 All-Americans have been produced, including national fourth place finisher Destiny Johnson in 2018-19 (High Jump - Outdoor) and 2013 national runner-up Ayrton Azcue (800m - Indoor).
 
The women’s program had its first Division II All-American in 2002 with Joni Guffey in the 1,500-meter run. In 2004, the Laker men’s 4x400-meter relay team of Brian Etleman, Rother Heard, Carlos Guyton and Eric Simmons placed sixth at the NCAA Division II nationals to earn All-American honors.
 
On top of that he has recruited and coached half of Clayton State's four CoSIDA Academic All-America's, one from each program. The first of those was Robert Spezzacatena in 2012 and the most recent being Joy Diaz in 2018. Both were Third-Team selections.
 
In the seven years that the Peach Belt Conference has sponsored outdoor track & field, Mead’s teams combined for 69 All-PBC honors, 37 for the men and 32 for the women, as well as 16 individual league champions.
 
Additionally, he has earned a number of coaching honors, including being named PBC Coach of the Year six times. He accomplished that with the women in 1996, 2001 and 2012 and the men in 1997, 2005 and 2008. His women’s team has garnered the department’s All-Academic Team trophy four times (1999-2002, 2004) while the men won the 2008 honor.
 
Mead holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Master of Public Administration degrees from the University of West Georgia. While at West Georgia, he helped the cross country team to consecutive appearances at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in 1978-79. In track and field, Mead represented West Georgia at three NCAA Division II Championships in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. He held four track records including the steeplechase (9:08.7), indoor mile (4:18) and indoor two-mile (9:14).
 
Prior to attending West Georgia, Mead ran two seasons at NJCAA powerhouse Southwestern Michigan College (SMC). He competed in two NJCAA national meets, including the 1977 cross country championships in which SMC finished second. Following college, Mead ran for the Atlanta Track Club (ATC) and Athletics South competitive teams.
 
He is also active in the community, currently serving on the board of directors for the Good Shepherd Clinic, represents Lake City, Ga. on the Clayton County Land Bank, and was a member of the Kiwanis of Southlake Club. He was a member of the NCAA Track & Field Rules Committee from 2017-2021, serving as its chair his last two years.  Additionally, he served on the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Track & Field Committee from 2008-12.

Mead is an active member in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), having served as President for Division II Cross Country from 2007-09. He also served twice on the USTFCCCA Board of Directors, most recently from 2018-2021 as an At-Large member as the NCAA Division II Chairman.  In 2021, he was the recipient of the Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award for his years of service to USTFCCCA.
 
Mead and his wife, Alison, reside in nearby Lake City, Georgia.

THE MIKE MEAD FILE

*Dual Member of NAIA and Georgia Athletic Conference and Peach Belt Conference
!NAIA Member (Final Season)
#Champions
%Individual National Qualifier(s)
Note 1: The Peach Belt Conference Began Sponsoring Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2013
Note 2: Clayton State Has Always Competed as an Independent in Indoor Track & Field

Updated July 11, 2019 - 7:39 p.m.