Darton College
Bruce Skiles
Cross Country/Track and Field Coach
Photo: Bruce Skiles
Long-time running enthusiast Bruce Skiles became the head coach of cross country in 2011. He had volunteered his time and property to train Darton College student-athletes in 2007 when the program began, and the program has continued its growth thanks to his experience and influence.
Coach Skiles offered to share his coaching experience and top-quality trails on his Lee County farm late in the inaugural 2007 cross country season. The Darton teams began to train with Coach Skiles twice weekly for speed- and hill-training which helped lead his daughter, Brittney, who ran for the Cavaliers, to later win the Region XVII Individual Champion award as the team clinched its first Region title.
Bruce Skiles brings five years of high school coaching experience into the program, and he has trained and rehabilitated several local athletes, including David Marley, who despite a torn ACL in 2006 returned to race at Darton in 2007 and set the first Darton College school record for the 8K.
Although Coach Skiles can boast strong winning records as a coach, his personal athletic feats are also impressive.
He ran for then JUCO powerhouse Penn State, Berks Campus, for two seasons and became a two-time All American before transferring to Auburn where he quickly became the university's No-1 runner. Coach Skiles set a number of school records as he placed 2nd in the Penn Relays with a 9:23, 3200-meter finish. He also ran a 4:08 mile moments before blazing a 13:51 5000-meter run. Also at Auburn Coach Skiles blasted an 8:13 finish on the 3000-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Indoor Invitational at Madison Square Garden.
He continued to train on his own after college and placed 13th in the Peachtree City Road Race in 1980 before qualifying for the Olympic Trails for the marathon. Coach Skiles ran only one 8K race, which is the distance of our men's competitions, and finished with a 24:08.
Coach Skiles resides in Lee Country with his wife, Terri, and children Brittney, Brandon, and Alexi. His son, Brandon, and daughter, Brittney, both ran at Darton and now run at Columbus State University.
