Louisiana College President Dr. Rick Brewer and Athletic Director Reni Mason announced the hiring of LaTonya Loche as the next men’s and women’s track and field coach on July 5, 2018. Loche will be the third head coach in the program’s history.
The Bastrop, La. native was a standout track star at Bastrop High School for the Rams, earning six individual Class 4A state titles, including three in the 100-meter dash. Following her prep career in North Louisiana, Loche enrolled at the University of Tennessee graduating in 2008 with a degree in sociology and criminal justice. She obtained her master’s in criminal justice from the University of Central Florida while serving as a graduate assistant for the UCF track teams. After receiving her degree from UCF Loche returned to Louisiana to work and coach at Richwood High School in Monroe until accepting her position with the Wildcats.
During her time in Knoxville, Loche became one of the Lady Vols most decorated track stars with 12 total All-American selections and as a member of two relay teams that still hold school records. Loche earned a total of six indoor and six outdoor All-American selections across four different events. Her individual All-American honors include the indoor 200-meter (2005), and 400-meter (2008) distances, as well as a 400-meter outdoor selection in 2005. She was a member of the 1600-meter indoor All-American team three of her four years at UT, and a three-time All-American in the 4x400 meter outdoor relay.
Her 4x400 meter relay outdoor team from 2005 currently holds the UT school record in that event with a time of 3:27.46, and the outdoor distance medley relay team from 2008 holds the record of 10:50.5.
She was the Dr. Jack Chesney Community Service Award winner following the 2007 season and was a member of the distance medley relay team that won the Penn Relays championship that same year. She was also a member of the 2005 Tennessee indoor national championship team, placing eighth in the 200 meters as an individual, bet earning a silver finish in the 4x400 meter relay helping push the Lady Vols into the top spot.
