- Assistant Coach, Men's & Women's Track and Field -- Distance (Sixth season)
- Assistant Coach, Men's & Women's Cross Country (Fifth season)
- 4-time NCAA Division I National Champion -- Track & Field
- 4-time SEC Champion -- Track & Field
- 2012 SEC Women's Cross Country Champion
Florida assistant coach Paul Spangler, the 2012 SEC Cross Country Women’s Coach of the Year, recently completed his fifth season coaching the men’s and women’s cross country programs, and enters his sixth campaign overseeing the men’s and women’s track and field distance runners.
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Track & Field
Since his arrival in Gainesville, back in January 2012, Spangler has coached the Gators to 35 USTFCCCA All-America plaudits—18 men’s and 17 women’s laurels—in track’s distance events (800 meters, 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, 3,000-meter steeplechase, indoor mile, distance medley relay).
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Those honorees are headlined by six-time All-American and 2014 SEC Indoor Co-Women’s Runner of the Year Cory McGee and six-time All-American Agata Strausa. UF’s other individual award winners under Spangler are:
- 2014 USTFCCCA South Region Indoor Women’s Track Athlete of the Year – Cory McGee
- 2012 USTFCCCA South Region Outdoor Women’s Track Athlete of the Year – Genevieve LaCaze
- 2012 SEC Co-Women’s Outdoor Runner of the Year – Genevieve LaCaze
- 2013 SEC Men’s Outdoor Freshman Runner of the Year – Jimmy Clark
- 2014 SEC Women’s Indoor Freshman Runner of the Year – Becky Greene
Within the SEC, Florida’s distance runners have been as competitive and successful as almost any other program in the conference. One of the top highlights of Spangler’s time with the Gators came at the 2012 SEC Outdoor Championships, where Genevieve LaCaze became the first athlete in conference history to win the 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase in one league championship meet.
Here are some of the other impressive numbers the Gators have accrued during SEC competition under Spangler:
- 13 men’s and women’s SEC Championships
- Nine women’s SEC Championships
- Back-to-back SEC Indoor Championships victories in the distance medley relay (2013, 2014)
All of the aforementioned national and conference achievements have been vital to Florida’s team success over the last five years:
- NCAA Men’s Division I Championships – i: 2012; o: 2012, 2013, 2016
- SEC Men’s Championships – i: 2015; o: 2015
- SEC Women’s Championships: i: 2012, 2014
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Olympians, World Championship Qualifiers and Professionals Coached by Spangler
Three of Spangler pupils have gone on to sign professional contracts and compete on the biggest stages the world has to offer. Genevieve LaCaze, who competes internationally for Australia, would have been a two-time World Championships runner had it not been for an ankle injury she suffered in a IAAF Diamond League meet building up to the 2013 World Championships—which she had already qualified for.
Spangler also helped Andres Arroyo qualify for the 2016 Puerto Rican Olympic team during his junior year with the Gators. Arroyo went on to become the first Puerto Rican 800 meters runner to ever qualify for the Olympic semifinals.
Most recently, Spangler coached Eddie Garcia, the U.S. Virgin Islands record holder in the indoor and outdoor 5,000 meters, indoor 3,000 meters, and outdoor 10,000 meters to a berth in the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
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- Genevieve LaCaze, Australia (New Balance) – 2012 Olympics (3,000m Steeplechase)
- 2015 IAAF World Championships (3,000m Steeplechase)
- Cory McGee, United States (New Balance) – 2013 IAAF World Championships (1,500m)
- Andres Arroyo, Puerto Rico – 2016 Olympics (800m)
- Eddie Garcia, U.S. Virgin Islands – 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
- Donnie Cowart, United States (Saucony) – 2015 Pan American Games (4th place, 3,000m Steeplechase)
- 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials – 4th place (3,000m Steeplechase)
Other Top Performances Under Spangler
The Gators have broken six school records in Spangler’s four seasons with the program. There has not been any shortage of outstanding performances at the NCAA Championships under Spangler’s watch either, with UF runners combining for three runner-up finishes in distance events at those meets.
- 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championships runner up – Genevieve LaCaze (3,000m steeplechase)
- 2013 and 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships runner up – Cory McGee (1,500m)
- 2013 NCAA Indoor Championships third-place finisher – Agata Strausa (mile)
- 2013 NCAA Indoor Championships fourth-place finisher – Sean Obinwa (800m)
- 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships fourth-place finisher – Cory McGee (mile)
- 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships fourth-place finisher – Distance Medley Relay
Florida All-Time Top 10s Under Spangler
The Gators have posted 62 times to the program’s All-Time Top 10s during Spangler’s tenure. Several of those times were posted by either future Olympians, individuals who won an SEC title, or were NCAA runner-ups.
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| Women’s Outdoor All-Time Top 10s |
| Gator |
Rank |
Event |
Time |
Notable |
| Cory McGee |
School Record |
1,500m |
4:06.67 |
2013 & 2014 NCAA Runner-Up; 3-time All-American; 2014 SEC Champion |
| Agata Strausa |
#3 |
|
4:11.27 |
2014 All-American; 2013 NCAA Qualifier |
| Genevieve LaCaze |
#4 |
|
4:12.48 |
2012 SEC Champion |
| Becky Greene |
#8 |
|
4:17.36 |
|
| Taylor Tubbs |
#9 |
|
4:19.64 |
|
| Shelby Hayes |
#10 |
|
4:19.72 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Genevieve LaCaze |
School Record |
3,000m Steeplechase |
9:37.90 |
2012 NCAA Runner-Up; 2012 SEC Champion |
| Stephanie Strausser |
#3 |
|
10:19.30 |
|
| Agata Strausa |
#5 |
|
10:21.03 |
|
| Hannah Brookover |
#6 |
|
10:24.23 |
|
| Devin McDermott |
#7 |
|
10:42.32 |
|
| Callie Cooper |
#10 |
|
10:54.23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Agata Strausa |
#3 |
5,000m |
15:58.15 |
|
| Cory McGee |
#4 |
|
16:03.06 |
|
| Taylor Tubbs |
#5 |
|
16:07.55 |
2016 NCAA Qualifier |
| Genevieve LaCaze |
#9 |
|
16:13.61 |
2012 SEC Champion |
| Callie Cooper |
#10 |
|
16:32.13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Florence Ngetich |
#3 |
10,000m |
33:28.10 |
2-time NCAA Qualifier |
| Lauren Brasure |
#6 |
|
34:55.05 |
|
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| Men’s Outdoor All-Time Top 10s |
| Gator |
Rank |
Event |
Time |
Notable |
| Andres Arroyo |
#3 |
800m |
1:45.78 |
All-American; 2016 Olympics qualifying time |
| Ryan Schnulle |
#4 |
|
1:46.29 |
2014 NCAA Runner-Up |
| Sean Obinwa |
#6 |
|
1:46.68 |
2-time All-American |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jack Guyton |
#6 |
1,500m |
3:43.63 |
|
| Andres Arroyo |
#10 |
|
3:44.54 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mark Parrish |
School Record |
3,000m Steeplechase |
8:37.64 |
All-American |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jimmy Clark |
#3 |
5,000m |
13:58.24 |
|
| Josh Izewski |
#5 |
|
14:02.57 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Jimmy Clark |
#5 |
10,000m |
29:08.32 |
2013 SEC Champion |
| Josh Izewski |
#8 |
|
29:21.41 |
|
| JL Hines |
#10 |
|
29:26.03 |
|
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| Women’s Indoor All-Time Top 10s |
| Gator |
Rank |
Event |
Time |
Notable |
| Cory McGee |
#2 |
Mile |
4:32.10 |
3-time All-American; 2013 SEC Champion |
| Agata Strausa |
#4 |
|
4:36.39 |
2-time All-American; 2013 NCAA Bronze Medalist |
| Becky Greene |
#5 |
|
4:38.03 |
All-American |
| Taylor Tubbs |
#6 |
|
4:41.43 |
|
| Shelby Hayes |
#9 |
|
4:42.05 |
|
| Elisabeth Bergh |
#10 |
|
4:42.26 |
2016 SEC All-Freshman |
|
|
|
|
|
| Cory McGee |
#2 |
3,000m |
9:10.48 |
2014 SEC Champion |
| Agata Strausa |
#3 |
|
9:15.70 |
|
| Becky Greene |
#5 |
|
9:18.44 |
|
| Taylor Tubbs |
#8 |
|
9:21.36 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Taylor Tubbs |
#2 |
5,000m |
16:13.08 |
|
| Florence Ngetich |
#3 |
|
16:15.18 |
2012 SEC Champion |
| Genevieve LaCaze |
#5 |
|
16:26.81 |
|
| Callie Cooper |
#6 |
|
16:30.66 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
School Record |
DMR |
10:58.77 |
2012 NCAA Qualifier |
|
#2 |
|
11:00.16 |
2014 NCAA Qualifier |
|
#3 |
|
11:04.53 |
|
|
#4 |
|
11:08.11 |
2014 SEC Champion |
|
#5 |
|
11:08.19 |
|
|
#10 |
|
11:13.45 |
2013 SEC Champion |
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| Men’s Indoor All-Time Top 10s |
| Gator |
Rank |
Event |
Time |
Notable |
| Andres Arroyo |
School Record |
800m |
1:46.20 |
4-time All-American; 2017 SEC Champion |
| Sean Obinwa |
#3 |
|
1:47.22 |
2-time All-American; 2013 SEC Champion |
| Ryan Schnulle |
#4 |
|
1:47.29 |
2-time All-American; 2015 SEC Champion |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jack Guyton |
#8 |
Mile |
4:02.37 |
2017 SEC All-Freshman |
|
|
|
|
|
| Mark Parrish |
#2 |
3,000m |
7:59.72 |
|
| Jimmy Clark |
#5 |
|
8:05.75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mark Parrish |
School Record |
5,000m |
13:41.87 |
2-time All-American |
| Jimmy Clark |
#2 |
|
13:53.34 |
|
| Eddie Garcia |
#6 |
|
14:06.17 |
|
| Josh Izewski |
#7 |
|
14:06.67 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
DMR |
9:36.44 |
|
|
#6 |
|
9:38.95 |
|
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Cross Country
Under Spangler’s direction, UF cross country runners have earned:
- 21 USTFCCCA All-South Region accolades
- 16 All-SEC honors—including eight first-team honorees
- Five individual USTFCCCA All-Academic plaudits
- Five USTFCCCA All-Academic Team laurels
In 2012, Spangler led the Gators to a victory at the SEC Women’s Cross Country Championships—UF’s sixth conference crown—becoming the first coach in school history to win a league title in his debut season. Later that year, the Gators made the 12th NCAA Women’s Cross Country Championships appearance in UF history.
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Former Gator Agata Strausa earned a USTFCCCA All-American laurel in 2013, recording the seventh-highest finish (33rd place) at the NCAA Women’s Cross Country Championships in program history. She was also just the second UF runner since 1997 to place inside the top 40 at the national championships.
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On the men’s side, Mark Parrish has been the most successful Gator coached by Spangler, to this point. Parrish, the 2013 USTFCCCA South Region Male Athlete of the Year, broke the program’s 8K record with a time of 23:44.00 at the 2013 adidas Invite. That same season, he became the second UF runner in history to win the NCAA South Region Championship, going on to finish 49th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
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Spangler also helped Jimmy Clark become the first Gator and seventh man in SEC history to earn three All-SEC First Team accolades. Under Spangler’s tutelage, both Clark and Eddie Garcia qualified for the 2015 NCAA Cross Country Championships individually as redshirt seniors.
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The men enjoyed their best season under Spangler in 2013, when they took second place at the SEC Cross Country Championships and the NCAA South Regional Championship. The runner-up finish at the regional was good enough for the Gators to advance to their second NCAA Cross Country Championships since 2007.
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Florida also took third at the men’s NCAA South Regional Championship in 2012 and 2015.
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Other Top Cross Country Performances Under Spangler
- 2013 NCAA South Regional Championship runner up – Cory McGee
- 2012 NCAA South Regional Championship fifth-place finisher – Florence Ngetich
- 2012 SEC Championships runner up – Florence Ngetich
- 2013 SEC Championships fifth-place finisher – Jimmy Clark
- Fifth-fastest 8K time by a Gator an SEC Championship (23:57.03)
- Second-fastest 5K in history of UF Golf Course – Lauren Brasure (16:45.93)
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| Athlete Improvement Under Spangler |
| Athlete |
Event |
Prior to Spangler |
Florida PR |
Notable |
| Felix Kitur (VMI) |
800m |
1:52 |
1:46.75 |
VMI Outdoor Record |
| Donnie Cowart (VMI) |
Mile |
4:26
(1,600m) |
3:58 |
VMI Indoor Record Holder |
| Cory McGee |
1,500m |
4:26 |
4:06 |
UF Outdoor Record |
| Taylor Tubbs |
3,000m |
10:20 |
9:28 |
|
| Callie Cooper |
3,000m |
10:16 |
9:28 |
|
| Florence Ngetich |
5,000m |
17:16 |
16:15 |
No. 2 on UF Indoor Top 10 |
| Jimmy Clark |
5,000m |
14:55 |
13:53 |
No. 2 on UF Indoor Top 10 |
| Eddie Garcia |
5,000m |
15:16 |
14:06 |
2015 SEC Outdoor Champion (10,000m); No. 6 on UF Indoor Top 10 |
| Mark Parrish |
5,000m |
15:15 |
13:41.87 |
UF Indoor Record |
| Mark Parrish |
Steeplechase |
9:31 |
8:37 |
UF Outdoor Record |
| Genevieve LaCaze |
Steeplechase |
9:59 |
9:37 |
UF Outdoor Record |
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Coaching History
Prior to joining the Gators, Spangler spent nearly a decade at the Virginia Military Institute and five years at Florida State University.
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Coaching VMI, Spangler tutored a pair of USTFCCCA All-Americans—Donnie Cowart (3,000m steeplechase) and Felix Kitur (800m)—and helped the Keydets’ indoor 4x800-meter relay team post the world’s No. 1 time in 2011.
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Spangler also coached a Big South Men’s Indoor Most Outstanding Track Performer, Big South Co-Men’s Track & Field Athlete of the Year, Big South Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year, three consecutive Big South Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year, and five Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winners. A total of 90 track and field and cross country athletes earned all-conference honors during his lengthy stint with the Keydets.
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Moreover, Spangler’s mentees won 17 individual league titles, broke 21 school records, and helped the Keydets teams to a total of seven runner-up finishes at the Big South Cross Country Championships, Big South Indoor Championships, and Big South Outdoor Championships.
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In addition to leading VMI to its first NCAA Regional ranking, Spangler was named the 2009 Big South Conference Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year following the club’s runner-up performance at the league championship meet.
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At Florida State, Spangler mentored a pair of IAAF World Junior Championships qualifiers, two USTFCCCA All-Americans (both track athletes), 13 NCAA All-South Region runners, an Atlantic Coast Conference Cross Country Female Freshman of the Year and three All-ACC Cross Country performers.
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Along with the three individuals Spangler led to NCAA Cross Country Championship berths, the Seminoles qualified for the 2001 NCAA Women’s Cross Country Championships as a team.
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With the help of Spangler’s distance coaching, Florida State won ACC Outdoor Championships in 2000 (women) and 2002 (men).
- Florida – Assistant Coach, Men’s and Women’s Track & Field – Distance (2012-Present)
- Florida – Assistant Coach, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country (2012-Present)
- Virginia Military Institute – Assistant Coach, Men’s and Women’s Track & Field (2003-2011)
- Virginia Military Institute – Head Coach, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country (2002-2011)
- Florida State – Assistant Coach, Men’s and Women’s Track & Field (1999-2002)
- Florida State – Assistant Coach, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country (1998-2001)
Note: Years indicated are seasons coached
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Personal
Spangler, a native of Brooksville, Fla., graduated from the University of Alabama in 1998 with a Bachelor’s of Science in education. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree in sports administration while coaching at Florida State.
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At Alabama, Spangler began his cross country career as a walk-on before earning a scholarship, becoming a two-time NCAA Cross Country Championships qualifier (1996-97), as well as a 1997 All-NCAA South Region and All-SEC honoree for the Crimson Tide.
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Spangler and his wife Cynthia were married in 2002 and are parents to a son, Preston.
