Adekunle Lawson is entering his first year as an assistant coach with Track & Field program. Lawson, who came to the Spiders from Ohio University, will serve as the throws coach and supervise the team's strength and conditioning.

Lawson has spent the last two years with the Bobcats, where he focued his coaching efforts in the throws and horizontal jumps, as well as split time with the multi-events and the short sprints. He holds USA Track & Field (USATF) Level II Certification in the Throws, Jumps and Multi Events along with USATF Level I Certification.

He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association as well as holding Sports Performance Coach Certification with USA Weightlifting.

Lawson graduated from Lynchburg College in 1997 with a degree in business management. He then returned to Lynchburg to graduate Summa cum Laude with a degree in exercise physiology, which he completed in 2005. Lawson completed his master's degree in coaching education in 2007 at Ohio.

Finishing his standout collegiate track & field career in 1997, Lawson remained with the Lynchburg program as an assistant coach through 2003 specializing in the throwing events. During his tenure, his athletes dominated the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), crowning 27 league champions in the throwing events and qualifying four athletes for the NCAA Championships.

He was the strength coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2004 and served in the same capacity with the Chicago Cubs a year later.

Lawson served in the United States Army from 1990-1994 as a counterintelligence agent, spending four and a half months in Somalia in 1993. He obtained rank of sergeant (E-5) prior to his departure along with several exceptional service medals.

During his collegiate career, Lawson was an accomplished field athlete for Lynchburg. He was a two-time Old Dominion Athletic Conference champion in the discus, and he was a three-time recipient of his team's Coaches' Award. Lawson also competed in the shot put for the Hornets.

Lawson has been an active participant in the U.S. Masters Track & Field program. A three-time USATF National Master's Indoor Champion in 2004, Lawson returned to competition this year after taking a short hiatus.