Hokie Club
Shelli Sayers was named the program’s director of operations in September 2026, as announced by Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Ben Thomas.
“I am excited to welcome Shelli Sayers to Hokie Nation!” Thomas said. “She brings valuable experience at all levels of the sport — from being a student-athlete to serving as an assistant coach and head coach at the collegiate level. I know she will help us continue to provide great opportunities for our student-athletes. I’ve known Shelli throughout her career as an athlete and coach, and am thrilled to be getting someone of her quality and experience. We are thrilled to have her aboard!”
Sayers joins Virginia Tech after more than 10 years with the Radford track & field and cross country programs. She joined the Highlanders' staff as an assistant coach in 2015 before being promoted to director of track & field and cross country on July 31, 2019.
During her tenure at Radford, Sayers guided four Highlanders to a combined 10 Big South individual championships and helped reestablish 20 school records. Under her leadership, Hannah Moran (2022, 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters), Jeylah Hamrick (2026, 400 meters) and Jaelynn Joiner (2026, long jump) qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Regional Championships.
Sayers also helped establish a culture of success in the classroom, with both the men's and women's programs earning academic recognition throughout her tenure. Four Highlanders were named Big South Scholar-Athletes of the Year under Sayers' guidance, including Liam McDonald (2024) and Hayat Khan (2025) on the men's side and Annsley Eckert (2020) and Natalie Preston (2023) on the women's side.
Moran captured the 2021 Big South Cross Country Championship, becoming Radford's first individual conference champion in cross country since 1993. During Sayers' tenure, Radford athletes also established program records in the men's 6K and 8K and the women's 4K, 5K and 6K.
Sayers also played a key role in the return of men's track & field to Radford, helping reestablish the program as part of the Highlanders' athletics department.
In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Sayers oversaw scholarship and operating budgets, recruiting efforts, team travel and logistics, academic progress, equipment and uniforms, fundraising initiatives and community service efforts. She also served on the Big South Athlete of the Week nominating committee and Radford Athletics' Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Before returning to Radford, Sayers spent five seasons at the University of Northern Iowa, serving as associate head track & field coach from 2010-15. She assisted with budget and scholarship management, supervised assistant and volunteer coaches, oversaw academic progress and helped develop long-term strategic plans for the men's and women's track & field and cross country programs.
Sayers began her collegiate coaching career at Roanoke College, where she served as an assistant track & field coach from 2004-10. She worked primarily with sprinters, hurdlers and relay teams while also assisting with recruiting, strength training, travel and meet operations.
A Blacksburg native, Sayers returns to her hometown to join the Hokies alongside her husband, Andy, the cross country coach at Christiansburg High School, and their daughters, Lily and Virginia.