CONVENTION: Mike Mead Honored With Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award

ORLANDO, Fla. – Mike Mead is this year’s recipient of the Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award.

Mead was feted on Wednesday during General Session of the 2021 USTFCCCA Convention at the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando, Florida.

The Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to an individual who has gone above and beyond in the call of duty in their service to the Association and to the sports of cross country and track & field.

From USTFCCCA Awards Central: Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award

Mead, who is the head coach of cross country and Assistant Athletics Director for Facilities and Alumni Engagement at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia, currently serves as Chair of the NCAA Division II Executive Council and is a member of the USTFCCCA Board of Directors.

Prior to taking over as Chair of the NCAA Division II Executive Council, Mead held the position of President of the NCAA Division II Cross Country Executive Committee. Mead has a long list of other previous roles: serving on the NCAA Division II Executive Council; serving on the NCAA Division II Track & Field and Cross Country Sport Committee; serving as the Chair of and on the NCAA Track & Field and Cross Country Rules Committee; as well as serving on the USTFCCCA Board of Directors before his current appointment.

Mead started at Clayton State in November 1990 as a public information assistant and sports information director. From there, he was also the Assistant Director of Athletics from 1997 to 2017 and the Interim Director of Athletics during most of the 2011-2012 academic year.

As a coach, Mead has guided the Lakers to 20 combined All-America performances between cross country and track & field, two team appearances at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships and 22 combined top-3 team finishes at the Peach Belt Cross Country Championships. Mead is also a six-time USTFCCCA Regional Coach of the Year honoree.