Louisiana College, President Dr. Rick Brewer, and Athletic Director Reni Mason are pleased to announce the hiring of Michael Bayne as the second head coach in Louisiana College track and field history.

Bayne has over 30 years of experience in the coaching industry from the high school to collegiate levels. After his graduation from the University of South Carolina, he served as a high school coach, teacher, and administrator for four different schools from 1984 until 2002 when he accepted an assistant baseball position at Charleston Southern University. LC is not the first young program that Bayne will lead, as he was instrumental in the establishment of the North Greenville University track and cross country programs. Leading NGU to a regional top 10 ranking in just five short years. Most recently he served as Special Teams Coordinator and Head Track Coach at Brevard College in Brevard, North Carolina. 

"Coaches don't win games," Bayne said. "It's the athletes and administration that make coaches successful. Having worked with Dr. Brewer during our time at CSU, I know that we, as well as all our athletic programs, have his full support.  And in just a short time since coming to Pineville I see that same support from Coach Mason as well."

Over his lengthy career, Bayne has amassed an impressive list of awards and honors. He was named region coach of the year in basketball, tennis, cross country, and track 12 different times, with half of those honors coming in track and field, including a span of five wins in six years from 1989-1994. He was also named the Region 6-A Athletic Director of the Year in 2005.

During his time at the collegiate level he saw 14 different athletes earn All-American honors under his guidance, a national champion long jumper, and a national indoor track athlete of the year. His 2013 North Greenville University track and field team ranked fourth in the Southeast Region in indoor and sixth in outdoor in the NCAA.  

"Coach Bayne's resume is impeccable," Mason said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with him. It was very important to hit a home run with this hire, and we have done just that with Coach Bayne.  I look forward to watching our track program reach great heights."

Listed below are some of Bayne's career highlights thus far:

    •  Named Coach of the Year 20 different times across various sports and media outlets and South Carolina's state coach of the year in 1987

    •  Coached 14 College All-American athletes and three professional athletes including Tampa Bay Buccaneer receiver Freddie Martino

    •  Coached team the set Guinness World Record for most three-point field goals made in a single game with 32

"It's been my privilege to have worked with Coach Bayne in the past as he served as an assistant coach at Charleston Southern," Brewer said. "Coach Bayne brings to LC significant years of coaching success marked by several championships and experience at all levels of the NCAA. Above all, Coach Bayne is a solid Christian leader with a passion for developing champions for Christ on and off the fields of competition."