Under Linh Nguyen’s leadership, UNCG was a perennial contender in Southern Conference cross country and track & field, culminating in one of the best years in program history in 2011-12, where he was named SoCon Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Nguyen coached for 12 seasons at UNCG, seven as the head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country and track teams.
He coached 18 individuals to SoCon Championships as well as 11 SoCon All-Freshman honorees during his time with the Blue & Gold.
Nguyen was a tremendous recruiter and mentor which was shown by bringing in UNCG’s first-ever All-American runner Paul Chelimo, as well as Paul Katam. In addition, he coached outstanding women’s runners Ashley Schnell as well as Chelsea and Shaina Sumney. Chelimo and Schnell are the first male and female runners inducted into the UNCG Athletics Hall of Fame.
Nguyen earned his master’s degree in exercise physiology from UNCG in 2007. Linh and his wife, Christina, live in Atlanta, Georgia, with their sons, Khoi (14) and Liem (11), and their daughter, Vy Lan (11). He is in his fifth year as the head coach for cross country and track and field at Emory University.
