Bevill State Community College has selected former Bears assistant coach Chad Balentine to take the reigns of the college’s highly successful cross country and track and field program.

Balentine, a native of the Shoals area, takes over for former head coach Jason Marshall, who resigned in late summer after eight seasons as head coach to enter into private business.

“I am excited to be here since I was a student at Bevill State myself,” Balentine said. “This has always been kind of like my second home. I want to thank the Bevill State administration and staff for seeing me as the right person for the job, and I am grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me. This is a winning program with a lot of tradition and I look forward to continuing that success.”

Success has been the mantra for the cross country and track and field squads during Marshall’s tenure.

The Lady Bears won the Region 22 cross country championship six times in Marshalls eight seasons and finished numerous times as one of the top 15 programs in the nation. Since 2001, 32 BSCC cross country and track athletes have been named either first-team or coaches’ All-Americans.

Marshall coached Priscilla Gaines to an NJCAA individual national championship in the long jump, as well as Valerie Brown, who in 2009 had the fifth fastest 400 meter dash time in the United States and the seventh fastest in the world. The track and field team consistently placed in the top 10 nationally as well.

“I appreciate the opportunity to take over such a fine program, and I hope that I can help build on the successes that Coach Marshall had in his tenure here,” Balentine said.

Balentine was an assistant cross country/track coach with Marshall at Bevill State in 2004-05 and again in 2007, and most recently was assistant track and field coach at Troy University in 2008-09. He holds an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts from Bevill State, a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from the University of Alabama, and is working toward a Master’s degree from Troy University.

“We have a great program in place at Bevill State with great student-athletes,” athletic director Russell Howton said. “Chad knows this program and is a part of the Bevill State family. I believe he will help us continue our success on the field as well as our success in the classroom.”

The Lady Bears will be in action at invitational meets on September 19 at Mississippi State University, September 30 at Gadsden State Community College, and October 10 at Jacksonville State University before the Region 22 championship meet on October 29.