MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Auburn University at Montgomery head men's and women's cross country coach Ryan Thompson has announced the addition of Michael Johnson and Danielle Riggs as graduate assistant coaches with Warhawks' programs, it was announced today.
 
Johnson comes to AUM after competing in cross country and track & field at the University of Montevallo. Johnson earned All-Conference honors twice during his career, in 2016 when UM was a member of the Peach Belt Conference and again in 2017 when the Falcons rejoined the Gulf South. He helped lead the Falcons to a second place finish in the PBC in 2016 and a third place finish in the GSC in 2017.
 
"I have gotten to know Michael fairly well over the last few years and being able to bring him on board will be a tremendous asset to the men's team with all his wealth of experience racing in the GSC as an athlete at Montevallo," said Thompson. "He is still extremely fit and will be able to hop in and push the guys during workouts."
 
A 2018 graduate of Montevallo, Johnson was a USTFCCCA Academic All-Region selection in 2015 and was a four-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He served as a team captain in 2017 and spent this past summer as a strength and conditioning intern at St. Vincent's in Birmingham, Ala.
 
Riggs has been a stalwart with the cross country program here at AUM, having been a member of the team since 2014. She competed in 18 straight events to start her career before redshirting in 2017. She ran her personal best in the 4k, running a time of 16:50.20 at the JSU Struts Invitational on Sept. 2, 2016, after running a time of 20:11.74 in the 5k at the Sand Shark Invitational on Oct. 24, 2015. Her time of 16:50.20 in the in the 4k is the eighth fastest time in AUM history in the event.  
 
"When I first arrived on campus in 2016 to take over the programs, Danielle and I clashed a few time during practice," added Thompson. "Once we were able to clear the air, so to speak, and understand where we were both coming from we've been golden ever since. Once she understood what I was trying to accomplish with the programs she was one of the first athletes to truly buy into my vision. She knows what I am like and how I coach and that will be a big help with the influx of freshmen and transfers we have this year."
 
A 2018 graduate of AUM, Riggs was named to the 2018 GSC Fall Honor Roll and has been named to the Provost and Athletics Director Honor Roll on multiple occasions.
 
Both the men's and women's programs will begin their season at the 2019 Falcon Classic hosted by Montevallo on Sept. 7.
 
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