University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Men's Cross Country

Jessica Riden is in her fifth year as the Associate Director of Track & Field and Assistant to the Athletic Director at UNC. Riden comes to Carolina after fo...

Following seven years at Stanford University, Chris Miltenberg was named Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at the University of North Carolina on J...

Ahead of his fifth season at UNC, North Carolina Track & Field Head Coach Chris Miltenberg announced the promotion of Ian Moini to Associate Head Coach of Me...

John Tatter is entering his third season as a member of the cross country and track & field staff. Tatter was promoted from a volunteer assistant to an assistant coach in October 2024. Tatter coaches the men’s and women’s distance teams. Tatter’s tenure has also featured team success, such as the Tar Heels winning their first ACC Cross Country Championship since 1985 and their first ACC Indoor Championship since 1996, while achieving their best finish, 5th place, at the NCAA Indoor Championships since 1973. During his first two years at Chapel Hill, Tatter coached three national champions (Parker Wolfe in the 5,000m, Makayla Paige in the 800m, and Ethan Strand in the 3,000m) and four NCAA runner-ups. Under his watch, Carolina has produced 16 All-Americans in the distance events and six in cross country. Tatter is a 2022 UNC graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Tatter excelled as a member of the varsity cross country and track teams at Carolina, earning All-Region honors and qualifying for the NCAA Championship.

Perry Waddell joined the UNC track and field/cross country program as its director of operations in the summer of 2023, coordinating all administrative and operational aspects of the Tar Heels' program, including travel, recruiting and event management. Waddell joins the Tar Heels staff following six years with Georgia's track and field program, where he finished his tenure as executive assistant to the head coach. He spent nearly three years as a student manager for the Bulldogs before becoming a graduate assistant for two more years, and eventually promoted to a full-time position. As a student manager, Waddell was a member of the Bulldogs' 2018 NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship team in addition to UGA's 2018 NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship squad. Georgia recorded a total of 10 NCAA outdoor championship top 10 finishes and nine top 10 indoor placements while Waddell was on staff. In addition to their 2018 indoor championship, the Lady Bulldogs earned two runner-up indoor finishes and a pair of second-place outdoor finishes. The men's team finished among the top 10 in both the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships each of Waddell's six seasons working with the UGA program. A 2020 graduate of the University of Georgia, Waddell worked in the athletic department's marketing/promotions department as an undergraduate as well as its athletic ground crew. Waddell earned his Master of Science in sport management from UGA in 2022 after receiving his Bac