COMMERCE – East Texas A&M University director of athletics Jim Curry has announced a transition in the leadership of the Lion track and field and cross country programs on Thursday afternoon.
 
George Pincock has resigned from East Texas A&M, having accepted an assistant coach position at a Power 4 conference institution and longtime assistant coach Rock Light has been named the next head coach of the Lion track & field and cross country programs.
 
Pincock served as the head coach of the Lions' track and field and cross country programs for the past 10 years, leading East Texas A&M through one of the most successful eras in program history. During his tenure, he coached 25 individual national champions and more than 100 All-Americans. The Lions also captured four team conference championships under his leadership.
 
Light has served as an assistant coach for the Lions since 2019. Since arriving in Commerce, he has overseen the vertical jumps and combined events groups, coaching four individual national champions, nine All-Americans, and 20 conference champions. He was also named the 2022 USTFCCCA South Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
Prior to joining East Texas A&M, Light worked with the track and field and cross country programs at Adams State, Texas Tech, Oregon, LSU, and Texas State. Throughout his coaching career, he has been part of 16 team national championships, including five as a head coach. He has also been named National Coach of the Year four times and Conference Coach of the Year 15 times, including twice in the Southland Conference.
 
QUOTABLES
JIM CURRY  
George Pincock is unquestionably one of the most decorated head coaches in the history of Lion Athletics. His impact on the track and field and cross country programs, the athletics department, and on each of the student-athletes he served cannot be overstated. We are grateful for the standard of excellence he embodied and celebrate his legacy at East Texas A&M as he moves on to this new opportunity.
 
We are thrilled to name Rock Light the next head coach for East Texas A&M track & field and cross country. Few coaches in the sport of track and field possess the knowledge, experience, and accomplishments that Rock exhibits. He has been an integral part of the success at East Texas over the past seven years, in addition to being a proven head coach with national championship credentials. We look forward to seeing him build on the foundation in place and elevating Lion track and field and cross country to new heights.
 
GEORGE PINCOCK
Stepping away from East Texas A&M after more than a decade is not how I imagined this summer to end. However, I do so with tremendous gratitude for the opportunity to lead this program. I want to sincerely thank Jim Curry and President Mark Rudin for their trust, leadership, and support throughout my time here. It has been an honor.
 
None of what we accomplished would have been possible without the dedication of our coaching staff, support staff, and the many people across campus who invested in our program. They believed in the vision, worked tirelessly behind the scenes, and helped turn many of my professional dreams into reality. I will always be grateful for their commitment, friendship, and sacrifice.
 
To every student-athlete and alum who has worn East Texas A&M across their chest, thank you for allowing me to be part of this program's story. I hope the work we have done, the standards we established, and the relationships we built have left a legacy you are proud of. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my career to lead this program, and East Texas A&M will always hold a special place in my heart.
 
ROCK LIGHT
I am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the new head coach for East Texas A&M. I want to thank Athletic Director Jim Curry, President Dr. Mark Rudin, and coach George Pincock for believing in my vision and entrusting me with this responsibility.
 
This is a tremendous privilege, and I don't take it lightly. I'm excited to work alongside our talented student-athletes, dedicated coaching staff, and everyone within the organization as we strive to build a culture of accountability, hard work, and excellence. I can promise our Lion alumni that this team will continue to compete with Lion pride every single day. I'd also like to thank my family, mentors, and everyone who has supported me throughout my coaching journey. Their guidance and encouragement have helped prepare me for this moment. 
 
My wife Shanny and our sons TJ and Brett are extremely excited and I am looking forward to getting to work and earning the trust of our student-athletes, fans, and administration and helping lead this team towards continuing the sustained success. Thank you, and I can't wait to begin this new chapter. Go Lions!