Dr. Finn Pincus is in his 12th year as head coach of the Roanoke College cross country and track and field programs. He as established himself as one of the top coaches in the ODAC in his first 11 seasons.

Pincus has earned his share of accolades while at Roanoke. Last season was one of the team’s most successful campaigns under Pincus’ guidance. The women’s squad won both the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championships indoors and outdoors. As a result, Pincus was named the ODAC Coach of the Year for both accomplishments. Prior to those two awards, Pincus was named the men’s cross country Coach of the Year in 1998 after leading the Maroons to their first conference title since 1987.

In addition to the above honors, Pincus has been named the Coach of the Year in women’s indoor track & field three other times (1996, ‘97, ‘98), women’s outdoor track & field in 1997, and shared the women’s cross country award in 1993. Under his guidance, Maroon teams have been conference champions seven times: 1998’s men’s cross country team, women’s outdoor track & field in 1997, and women’s indoor track & field in 1997 and 1998, and last season’s two titles. The latest came during the past cross county season when the women claimed their first ODAC title. Pincus was named the Coach of the Year for leading the team to the championship.

Perhaps the greatest of all of Pincus’ accomplishments, however, was coaching Casey Smith ’01 to the national championship in the outdoor 10,000 meters in 2001 and also a third place finish in the 5,000 meters. He helped Smith earn track All-American honors five times throughout her career. She was also a two-time All-American in cross country.

Over the past nine seasons, four different track & field athletes at Roanoke have met national qualifying standards in six different events. Under Pincus’ close watch, Emily Hollett, as a freshman, qualified for nationals in three different events (long jump, triple jump, and high jump). During the 1999-2000 season, both Hollett and Casey Smith qualified for the national championships. Smith finished second in the 10,000 meters at the outdoor race, and then just two days later placed seventh in the 5,000 meter run.

In addition to track & field success, several individuals have excelled for the RC cross country team. In seven of the past 10 seasons, a cross country runner from Roanoke has qualified for the NCAA Championship meet.

Pincus is also very active within the community. In 1992, he was named the District 8 Volunteer of the Year by the Special Olympics. He is also a former chairman of the Roanoke City School Board. Also, Pincus was a member of the Virginia Amateur Sports Board of Directors from 1993 to 2001. He is also currently a member of the NCAA Division III Track & Field/Cross Country Committee and has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for ECPI College of Technology since 1992.

While an undergraduate at UVA, Pincus was a co-captain of both the cross country and track teams. In 1976, he was named MVP of the cross country team and set the school record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (9:05), won the College State Meet, and placed in the ACC meet in track. In 1977, he won the prestigious UVA’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. In 1978, Pincus qualified for the U.S World Cross Country Trials.

Pincus remains an avid and competitive runner. His personal best times include 14:39 in the 5k, 30:32 in the 10k, and two hours and 25 minutes in the marathon.

A native of Norfolk, VA, Pincus graduated from the University of Virginia in 1977. He went on to Virginia Tech to earn a master’s in education in 1978, a master’s in business administration in 1983, and a doctorate in educational administration in 1995.

Pincus can be reached by phone at 540-375-2384 or by email at pincus@roanoke.edu.