JACKSON, Miss. - Belhaven Athletics is pleased to announce the naming of Brady "Butch" Ard as the Director of the Blazers' Track & Field and Cross-Country programs.
 
"We are absolutely thrilled to have Coach Ard join our Belhaven family. Coach Ard has a wealth of track and field coaching experience, and I am excited to see where he takes our program. He has a passion for the sport and for developing young men and women to grow academically, athletically, and spiritually which fits our mission perfectly" said Belhaven's Associate Director of Athletics Beth Vansant.
 
Ard becomes the fifth Head Coach and Director of Belhaven's Track & Field / Cross Country programs and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the University with over two decades of coaching experience.
 
"I am excited to be part of the Belhaven family. I want to personally thank the administration - Dr. Roger Parrott, Scott Little, and Beth Vansant – for the opportunity to lead the men's and women's track and field and cross-country programs. Together we will work to build this program to be one of the best in our new conference" said Coach Butch Ard.
 
Most recently, Ard served as the Head Coach of Track & Field and Cross-Country program at Mississippi College. Ard led the Choctaws for 17 years from 2002-2020 and during his tenure achieved nine conference championships including eight during MC's time as a part of the American Southwest Conference at the NCAA Division III level.
 
Ard coached two National Champions, 27 All Americans, 18 National Qualifiers, 31 All Region Selections, and 64 All-Conference Members with Mississippi College and was named as the conference Coach of the Year on eight occasions (four men's and four women's).
 
Vice President and Director of Athletics, Scott Little, stated "We are extremely happy to have Butch on board with us and look forward to all we'll experience in the seasons ahead. Kudos to Beth Vansant for running point in this search process."
 
Prior to his time in the college ranks, Coach Butch Ard built a successful high school program at Tupelo High School where his teams won four state championships across five seasons and earned Top 15 national finishes on four occasions.
 
Before his time in Tupelo, Ard was the Head Track and Cross-Country Coach at St. Andrew's Episcopal School where his program earned a state championship in Track & Field and a pair of state titles in Cross County. Ard was named NFHSAS National Track Coach of the Year once and Mississippi Cross Country Coach of the Year twice during his tenure as well.
 
In 2010, Ard was also named to the Hinds Community College Sports Hall of Fame for his contributions and success as an athlete there from 1979-1981.

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