Winthrop University Athletics

Ben Paxton (1993-2025) – Enjoyed a 32-year career coaching the men’s and women’s indoor/outdoor track & field teams as well as the men’s and women’s cross country programs. Under Paxton's watch, 121 individual athletes captured both Big South track and cross country titles and had over 420 athletes named Big South All-Conference selections. Paxton also guided the Eagles to two Big South team titles in cross country in 2000 and 2001. Paxton was named the Big South Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2001 after back-to-back men's cross country titles for the Eagles. He was also named the outdoor track coach of the year in 1999 and 2004 and indoor track coach of the year in 2000. He also oversaw incredible success nationally as 46 athletes in the Garnet and Gold advanced to the NCAA Regional Qualifiers in cross country and both indoor and outdoor track. There were 10 of them that advanced to the NCAA Championships, with nine Top 20 finishes, four Top 10 finishes to go along with five All-American selections on the biggest stage in the sport. With the induction of Kandrick Cooper there are now eight former Track & Field/Cross Country athletes in the Winthrop Hall of Fame.