University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Jody Stewart Promoted To Associate Head Coach Of Track & Field Program
August 12, 2026 | Track & Field
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Ahead of the 2026-27 season, Jody Stewart has been elevated to associate head coach of the track and field program, as announced by head coach Chris Miltenberg on Wednesday afternoon.
Stewart has spent the past five seasons with Carolina, joining the staff in October 2021. Throughout his time with UNC, Stewart has helped produce several All-Americas, multiple ACC Champions and led various Tar Heels to program records.
"Jody has been an incredible part of our program for the last five years, and I'm really excited to have him step into the role of Associate Head Coach. He has done an outstanding job building and leading our sprints group, but what has stood out to me just as much is the consistency, dependability and leadership he brings to our entire program," said Head Coach Miltenberg. "With the significant transition our staff is going through this year, Jody has been a tremendous anchor for us, and I know he will be a key part of our future. He has tremendous experience, cares deeply about our student-athletes and our program, and I'm especially excited for him to help mentor and develop the next generation of bright young coaches on our staff. We're fortunate to have him, and I'm fired up about what we can build together."
In his first season with the Tar Heels, Stewart coached Anna Keefer to All-America status in the women's 200 meters during the indoor season while helping her break three school sprint records. In the same season, Stewart led 10 athletes to all-time top-10 finishes across the indoor and outdoor seasons.
In the seasons that followed, Stewart coached athletes including Blaise Atkinson and Craig Saddler. In 2023, Atkinson earned a silver medal in the 110m hurdles at the USA U20 Championships to earn his spot on Team USA, where he won gold in the same event at the Pan American Championships. Continuing his stint with Team USA, Atkinson earned a bronze medal for his nation in the 400m relay at the U23 NACAC Championships.
Saddler became one of the most decorated athletes Stewart coached. Under Stewart's direction, Saddler claimed back-to-back ACC Outdoor titles in the 400m hurdles in 2023 and 2024, leading to his second-team All-America nod. After achieving the Olympic Trials automatic standard, Saddler placed fifth in the 2024 UK Olympic Trials in the 400m hurdles.
Most recently, during the 2026 season, Stewart aided Trevor Paschall in earning a runner-up finish in the 400m at the ACC Championships, where he notched a personal-best time of 45.99. Stewart also coached Killian Fahy and Tori Goodson toward representing their nations, with Fahy qualifying for the Ireland National Championships in the 400m and Goodson running the fifth-fastest time in program history in the 100m hurdles to secure her spot on Team USA at the U20 World Championships, earning a spot in the final of her event.
Stewart has spent the past five seasons with Carolina, joining the staff in October 2021. Throughout his time with UNC, Stewart has helped produce several All-Americas, multiple ACC Champions and led various Tar Heels to program records.
"Jody has been an incredible part of our program for the last five years, and I'm really excited to have him step into the role of Associate Head Coach. He has done an outstanding job building and leading our sprints group, but what has stood out to me just as much is the consistency, dependability and leadership he brings to our entire program," said Head Coach Miltenberg. "With the significant transition our staff is going through this year, Jody has been a tremendous anchor for us, and I know he will be a key part of our future. He has tremendous experience, cares deeply about our student-athletes and our program, and I'm especially excited for him to help mentor and develop the next generation of bright young coaches on our staff. We're fortunate to have him, and I'm fired up about what we can build together."
In his first season with the Tar Heels, Stewart coached Anna Keefer to All-America status in the women's 200 meters during the indoor season while helping her break three school sprint records. In the same season, Stewart led 10 athletes to all-time top-10 finishes across the indoor and outdoor seasons.
In the seasons that followed, Stewart coached athletes including Blaise Atkinson and Craig Saddler. In 2023, Atkinson earned a silver medal in the 110m hurdles at the USA U20 Championships to earn his spot on Team USA, where he won gold in the same event at the Pan American Championships. Continuing his stint with Team USA, Atkinson earned a bronze medal for his nation in the 400m relay at the U23 NACAC Championships.
Saddler became one of the most decorated athletes Stewart coached. Under Stewart's direction, Saddler claimed back-to-back ACC Outdoor titles in the 400m hurdles in 2023 and 2024, leading to his second-team All-America nod. After achieving the Olympic Trials automatic standard, Saddler placed fifth in the 2024 UK Olympic Trials in the 400m hurdles.
Most recently, during the 2026 season, Stewart aided Trevor Paschall in earning a runner-up finish in the 400m at the ACC Championships, where he notched a personal-best time of 45.99. Stewart also coached Killian Fahy and Tori Goodson toward representing their nations, with Fahy qualifying for the Ireland National Championships in the 400m and Goodson running the fifth-fastest time in program history in the 100m hurdles to secure her spot on Team USA at the U20 World Championships, earning a spot in the final of her event.
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