MOREHEAD, Ky. - One of the most notable names in the history of the Morehead State athletic department is returning to help the Eagle cross country/track and field program. A.L. "Buck" Dawson, an MSU Athletic Hall of Fame member, former MSU cross country and track and field coach, and for whom the current track inside Jayne Stadium is named for, is returning as a volunteer assistant this year with the Eagle men's and women's programs.
Dawson, who was inducted into the Morehead State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, will primarily help with the distance runners and sprinters.
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Having Coach Dawson back is a big asset for our program. He has been coaching for years and has had a lot of success everywhere he has been," said current head coach Tommy Barksdale. "He knows this area very well and can be a big help with recruiting. We are very excited to have coach Dawson back, and we are looking forward to getting started working."
Dawson most recently served as an assistant track and field and cross country coach at Montreat College in North Carolina. He was named the head track and field coach at MSU in 1973 and one year later was tabbed as the Ohio Valley Conference coach of the year. In 1977, he led the Eagles to an indoor track and field OVC Title, which prompted Morehead State to name its track inside of Jayne Stadium the A.L. "Buck" Dawson Track, the name it still bears to this day.
The Kentucky Track and Cross Country Coaches Association also recently inducted Dawson into its Coaches' Hall of Fame this year.
In 2001, he was also inducted into the West Virginia State University Hall of Fame for leading WVSU to five conference titles.
He also coached at Florida Southern and Warner Southern and he is a member of the Sunshine State Conference and the Polk County (Florida) Sports Halls of Fame.
A 1960 graduate of Morehead State, Dawson played on the Eagle football and baseball teams.
