COMMERCE, TEXAS – After leading the A&M-Commerce track and field program to unprecedented heights in only two years, head coach Tom Dibbern is stepping away from the program.

"I can't thank Coach Dibbern enough for his efforts while he was here," said A&M-Commerce Athletic Director Ryan Ivey, "His work ethic, vision, and ability to coach and motivate our athletes has taken our program to another level. We are all indebted to his service and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors."

As the leader of both the cross country and track & field programs, Dibbern truly made the most of his time with the Lions, picking up the USTFCCCA Regional Men's Coach of the Year honor in both the indoor and outdoor campaigns, as well as claiming the Texas Track and Field Coaches' Association Collegiate Coach of the Year honor. Under his tutelage, the Lion men claimed 12th at Indoor Nationals and 8th at Outdoor Nationals, rising as high as No. 1 in the country in the penultimate poll of the outdoor season. The Lion men claimed their first Lone Star Conference outdoor championship in 48 years, and became the first team in LSC history to claim both the Indoor and Outdoor championships in the same year. Also of note, the women's score of 99 at the LSC Championship was the highest women's score at an LSC Outdoor Championship in school-history. Dibbern and his coaching staff produced 30 All-Americans during his time at A&M-Commerce, while breaking 13 outdoor school records and 4 LSC records during his tenure.

"A national search will behin immediately for a new head coach," said Ivey, "Because of our commitment to success and the culture that we are establishing within Lion athletics, this position will be very attractive to many quality coaches. I look forward to the opportunity to find someone to continue to lead our program to unprecedented heights. The future is bright for Lion track and field."

While the search is being conducted, assistant coach Ross Smithey has been named the interim coach of the program.