LYNCHBURG, Va. --- Randolph College Director of Athletics Tom Galbraith has announced Tuesday the hiring of Tony Skiles as the new head men's cross country and track & field coach and the transition of Meghan Chaffins from interim to permanent head women's cross country and track and field coach.

"The placement of these two professionals into the full-time coaching staff represents a strong commitment from the college for our cross country and track and field programs," Galbraith said. "It was crucial to hire the right two people to partner with the director of cross country/track and field programs, Ryan Davis, to create a vision for growth and competitive excellence with Randolph cross country and track and field. I firmly believe we accomplished that goal."

Skiles arrives at Randolph with more than 14 years of collegiate coaching experience across all three NCAA divisions and NAIA institutions. Throughout his career, he has built programs from the ground up, developed championship-caliber student-athletes, and established a reputation for recruiting success and academic excellence.

"I am truly grateful to the committee for this incredible opportunity to join the coaches and administration at Randolph in their shared mission to elevate the cross country and track programs," Skiles said. "I'm passionate about elevating these programs to a competitive level and inspiring student-athletes to see Randolph as their ideal home."

Most recently, Skiles served as Head Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track & Field Coach at Virginia Military Institute. During his tenure, he helped the Keydets secure their highest women's cross country conference finish since 2012 and assisted in recruiting one of the program's largest incoming classes in recent years. 

Before VMI, Skiles spent three years as the head men's and women's cross country and track & field coach at the University of the Ozarks. There, he established the largest cross country roster in over a decade, recording 19 school records in a single year, and developing the fastest women's team in program history.

His coaching stops also include Finlandia University, the University of the Southwest, Cottey College, Sierra Nevada College, Albright College, and the University of West Florida.

Skiles has coached athletes to success at the conference, regional, and national levels. His accomplishments include helping guide two NCAA Division II Cross Country National Team qualifiers, coaching an NCAA Division III All-American, multiple conference champions, and numerous national championship qualifiers across NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA competition. His athletes have earned All-Conference, All-Region, and All-Academic honors.

Skiles is a certified USATF Level I coach and USATF Level II coach in jumps. He earned bachelor's degrees in history and political science from Kutztown University.

Chaffins returns to her alma mater now in a full-time position after four years of collegiate coaching experience, which includes one year serving as the assistant coach for cross country and track and field for Randolph during the 2025-26 season.

"This opportunity means more to me than I can put into words," Chaffins said. "Becoming the head coach at Randolph College is a dream I've worked towards for years. I'm thankful to everyone who has supported me along the way, and I am eager to pour that same belief and encouragement into our student-athletes every day."

Before Randolph, Chaffins served as an assistant coach at Heidelberg from 2023-25, where she was the primary coach for the jumps group. While there, she guided Olivia Bean to a program milestone when Bean broke a 35-year-old indoor triple jump record in 2024. 

At Regent University, she spent a season as an assistant coach, leading the jumps group. She led jumper Kevin Cropper to both indoor and outdoor NCCAA nationals. Cropper capped his season with a third-place finish in the high jump to earn NCCAA All-American honors in 2023.

While a student-athlete at Randolph, Chaffins competed in both volleyball and track and field from 2017-22. She graduated holding seven school records, four of which she still maintains: indoor long jump and outdoor long jump, triple jump, and high jump. She was named All-ODAC, All-USTFCCCA South Region, Virginia All-State in Division III, and twice earned ODAC Track & Field Athlete of the Week honors. Chaffins was also recognized as the Randolph College Women's Athlete of the Year in 2021.

Chaffins graduated from Randolph in 2021 with a dual bachelor's degree in Sport & Exercise Studies and Communications Studies. A year later, she came back and completed her M.A. in Coaching and Sport Leadership.