Paul Spangler Leaving UF For Head XC Position At Boston University

Todd Grasley


Paul Spangler has been a fixture in the Florida Gators distance program the last five years. Spangler, the assistant head coach for cross country and assistant head track and field coach for distance, recently announced he would be moving onto the fourth stop in his nearly two decade coaching career. He will take on head cross country coaching duties at Boston University in addition to coaching 800 meters and up on the track.

"Coaching at UF was a great opportunity," he said. "I will cherish my time at UF, working with world class athletes and a coaching staff next to none. I look forward to taking what I have learned in my 20 years of coaching to Boston University."

He went onto add that many factors played into why he chose to go to Boston including location and new atmosphere.

"For one my wife is from Canada and for her she will be much closer to her family," he explained. "For me, it was the opportunity to coach at a academically prestigious university with outstanding facilities and training environment for distance runners. Also, the chance to be a head cross country coach again was appealing."

During his time in the orange and blue, the Gators have tallied 62 marks into the program's top ten all-time rankings. He's coached numerous NCAA All-Americans, World Champions like Cory McGee, and Olympians such as Genevieve LaCaze, and Andres Arroyo.

Spangler's coaching career started in the state of Florida at Florida State as an Assistant Coach from 1998-2002 before spending nearly a decade at Virginia Military Institute. Spangler, a native of Brooksville, Florida and graduate of the University of Alabama returned back to SEC country in 2012 to become the Assistant Coach for men's and women's cross country as well as track and field distance.

More Coverage