ANDERSON, S.C. - Anderson University Director of Athletics Bill D'Andrea on Monday announced that former Converse College head coach Kevin Licht has been named the new head cross country and track and field coach for the Black and Gold.

"I want to thank Bill [D'Andrea] for everything he has done during this process," said Licht. "And I also want to thank everyone in the Anderson University family. We are blessed to be a part of such a close-knit Christian family. I am looking forward to building and continuing to grow the program."

Licht arrives in the Electric City after three seasons at the helm of the Converse cross country and track and field programs, where his Valkyries earned All-Southeast Region accolades 16 times and claimed All-Conference Carolinas honors on 15 occasions. Licht guided the Valkyries to eight individual Conference Carolinas' titles, including setting five conference records over the past two seasons and claiming Conference Carolinas' Athlete of the Week honors nine times. The Valkyries were ranked seventh in the Southeast Region in this past indoor track & field season by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Under Licht's tutelage, Converse's Ashly Sutherland claimed both Conference Carolinas Track Athlete of the Year and the league's Scholar Athlete of the Year honors, while qualifying for the NCAA Cross Country National Championships as a sophomore in 2013.

Licht's teams have performed in the classroom as well, earning All-Academic recognition from the USTFCCCA three times, while garnering individual Academic All-America accolades on three occasions. His athletes have captured Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll status 38 times since 2013, while claiming Academic All-Conference honors last season.

Prior to his stint in Spartanburg, Licht spent three seasons as the head cross country and track and field coach for the Roosevelt University (Chicago, Ill.) men's and women's programs.

Under his guidance, the 2011-12 Laker men's program posted the posted the 51st fastest qualifying time at the NAIA meet and produced two NAIA National Cross Country Championship qualifiers and two All-Conference athletes, both firsts in school history. The squad also posted the highest GPA (3.46) in the Roosevelt athletic department. While at Roosevelt, Licht also oversaw all gameday operations for the athletic department.

"Kevin is a great fit for our university and our department," said D'Andrea. "He has enjoyed success as a head coach and I am confident that he will do an outstanding job here at Anderson."

In 2011, Licht was successful in having an article published with the Associated Press entitled "Recruiting Service Helps Link Athletes, School." He also helped establish an "Athletes in Action" chapter at Roosevelt.

He was also an assistant cross country and track coach at Pomona College (Claremont Calif.), where he helped lead the Sagehens to a 2004 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship and a 22nd-place team finish at the 2004 NCAA D-III National Championships.

Licht received his bachelor's degree in economics and finance from North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) after competing for the Cardinals.

He earned All-Midwest Region accolades three times and All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin honors in cross country and track nine times as an undergraduate. Licht competed in three NCAA Division III National Championships with a pair of third-place finishes and a fourth-place finish.