Dan Royal is in his second year on the Spiders' cross country and track & field staff as a volunteer assistant coach. He has worked for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Richmond since June of 2006.

Royal, who placed eighth at the 2007 USATF Visa Indoor Championships in the 35 lb. weight throw, helps primarily with the throwers. He placed fifth overall at the 2007 Highland Games Amateur World Championship held at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival where he won the open stone throw and set the Highland Games Amateur World Championship Record of 52'11".

A 2004 graduate of Florida State University, Royal was a standout on the Seminoles' track & field squad. As a senior, he was All-ACC in the discus and was ranked in the top eight or better in the ACC in four events. In 2002 and 2003 was a NCAA East Region qualifier in the discus as well as a top-level ACC multi-event competitor with top-eight finishes in two or more events at each ACC Championship. He also played football for FSU in 2002.

He received his master's degree from Liberty University in 2006 and competed on the Flames' track & field squad for his final year of collegiate eligibility in 2005, during which he broke numerous school and conferences records. The Liberty team marks that Royal broke that season included the indoor shot put and weight throw and the outdoor discus. He also set conference records in the indoor shot put and weight throw, the outdoor discus and shot put.

His season at Liberty was also highlighted with a spot in the 2005 NCAA Indoor National Championship as a qualifier in the weight throw and the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the discus, hammer and shot.

After his collegiate career, he began pursuing a professional track & field contract and competing for the Liberty Elite Track and Field Club where he served as the Chaplin. He also continued to compete in other sports such as Strong Man and the Scottish Highland Games. He missed qualifying for the USA Championships in World Strongest Man by one spot in his first competition in 2005.

Royal is engaged to Nancy Elizabeth Topham and will be married in November.