BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech director of track and field/cross country Dave Cianelli announced the hirings of Ben Thomas and Alan Dunson on Wednesday.
Thomas, who will be the head coach of track and field, returns to Tech after serving as an associate head coach at the University of Oregon and head coach of the Oregon Track Club for the past five years. Prior to Oregon, Thomas spent 17 years with the Hokies.
Dunson, who will serve as an assistant coach for sprints, hurdles and relays, joins Hokie Nation from Northern Arizona where he was a part of the Lumberjacks' track and field program for the past five years. Most recently, Dunson was elevated to associate head coach in December 2022 at NAU.
Ben Thomas – Head Coach / Track and Field
"I am very excited to announce that Ben Thomas will be returning to Blacksburg and joining our coaching staff," Cianelli said. "Coach Thomas spent 17 seasons here at Virginia Tech building our distance program into one of the best in the nation. Over the past five years, Coach Thomas has developed world class distance runners at the University of Oregon, in addition to elite athletes at the professional level.
"Coach Thomas is an outstanding addition to our staff. I wish to thank director of athletics Whit Babcock and senior associate athletics director Chris Helms for their support in this process of expanding our coaching staff."
Thomas is a three-time USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year, having most recently won back-to-back indoor honors for the Ducks' incredible success during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He earned his first national award during his time at Virginia Tech following the 2017 season, becoming the first ACC assistant to ever win the award. Thomas is also a 10-time USTFCCCA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year, including four selections at Oregon.
"I'm excited to come home to Virginia Tech and very thankful to Coach Cianelli for bringing me back," said Thomas. "I would also like to thank Robert Johnson and the amazing staff I worked with at Oregon.
"I look forward to working with some great coaches and familiar faces at Virginia Tech, while helping the talented student-athletes reach their considerable potential."
Named the 2018 USTFCCCA Southeast Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year for both indoor and outdoor, Thomas led the Virginia Tech distance medley team to the national indoor title while also coaching three men to the final of the mile. At the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships, Thomas guided Vincent Ciattei to a runner-up finish in the 1,500 meters and Rachel Pocratsky to a fifth-place showing in the women's race.
Thomas coached Virginia Tech student-athletes to a total of 74 NCAA All-America accolades during his tenure in Blacksburg while leading the cross country and distance program to new heights. In total, Thomas helped lead the Hokies to a combined 12 ACC team titles during his 17 seasons.
The Lynchburg, Va., native got his start in coaching at E.C. Glass High School in his hometown, where he was an assistant track and field coach for two seasons (1992-94). Thomas then spent the 1994-95 season as the assistant cross country coach at Blacksburg High School before making the move to Appalachian State.
Thomas graduated from Virginia Tech ('92) with a bachelor's degree in English. He and his wife, Ann, have three children: Reilly, Seamus and Roisin.
Alan Dunson – Assistant Coach / Sprints, Hurdles and Relays
"I am happy to announce that Alan Dunson will be joining our Hokie family as our next sprints, hurdles and relays coach," Cianelli expressed. "Alan comes to us from Northern Arizona University where he developed numerous conference champions and NCAA national meet qualifiers.
"Coach Dunson has developed champions at every level of our sport, and I consider him to be one of the top young sprint coaches in the nation. I look forward to Coach Dunson's arrival in Blacksburg and can't wait to get started with him.
"Additionally, I wish to thank Tim Vaught for his very successful nine-year tenure as our sprints, hurdles and relays coach."
In 2022, Dunson's sprints and hurdles teams saw seven individual champions at both the indoor and outdoor Big Sky Championships en route to the men's and women's teams sweeping the competitions for the first time since 2018. Dunson's sprint team experienced success during the 2019 indoor track and field season as the men's team won the Big Sky Championships.
"It's an honor and privilege to be entrusted by Dave Cianelli and Virginia Tech with the opportunity to contribute to one of the most prestigious programs in collegiate athletics," Dunson said. It is with immense excitement that I begin coaching and mentoring a spectacular group of student-athletes, as well as working alongside an exceptional staff of coaches that instantly make me feel at home in Blacksburg.
"Coach Cianelli's established culture, team philosophy and rich Hokie tradition are what makes Virginia Tech a special place to pursue excellence at the highest possible levels. I want to sincerely thank Coach Cianelli, Virginia Tech and Hokies far and wide for this once in a lifetime opportunity to join the Hokie family."
Prior to Northern Arizona, Dunson was an assistant coach at Grand Valley State University where he coached 47 USTFCCCA All-Americans and the 2018 NCAA Division II Women's Indoor 4x400 Relay National Championship team. He was named the 2018 Division II National Women's Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year. Dunson was also awarded Women's Midwest Assistant Coach of the Year during the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Prior to GVSU, Dunson returned to his alma mater, Ashland University, where he was the assistant coach in charge of sprints and hurdles. During that time, he coached four first-team USTFCCCA All-Americans during the indoor season and two during the outdoor season. Dunson also coached three sprinters who would go on to become GLIAC champions, including the 2015 GLIAC Indoor Freshman of the Year.
Dunson began his coaching career as the head track and field coach at Bluffton High School in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. While at Bluffton, he coached two individual state champions as well as a third-place finisher.
Dunson attended Ashland University where he earned a bachelor's degree in integrated mathematics. While attending Ashland, he was a two-sport athlete, receiving eight varsity letters between track and field and football. Dunson was a two-time conference champion in the 110-meter hurdles, a seven-time All-GLIAC selection, and a two-time NCAA National Championship qualifier. He was a key member of three GLIAC outdoor track and field championship teams for Ashland.