THIBODAUX, La. -- Tuesday afternoon, Nicholls State University head track & field/cross country coach Stefanie Slekis announced Austin Billings as the new assistant coach for the program, tasking the Franklin, Tenn. native with sprints, hurdles, jumps, multis and relays, pending approval from the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.

"Austin is a fantastic addition to our Track & Field and Cross Country staff," Slekis said. "I have followed Austin's collegiate coaching career closely since his time at Samford University competing as a decathlete. Austin has not only coached great sprints/jumps/hurdles/multis student-athletes, but he also understands as an athlete how it feels to develop and compete in these events.

"I am excited for Austin to get to work bringing our sprints/hurdles/jumps/multis/relays event group to an even higher level after a very successful past two-and-a-half years, especially with us returning several young women who have set Nicholls School Records, stood on the Southland Conference podium and secured Nicholls All-Time Top 10 marks. I know he values developing the young men and women we recruit and coach both athletically as well as academically and empowering them to develop as good citizens through servant leadership, a foundation of our program."
 
Prior to joining the Red & Gray, Billings served as an assistant track & field coach at the University of Montevallo for four years from 2018-21, managing the strength, conditioning and overall training of program's jumpers, vaulters, sprinters, hurdlers and multis. Additionally, he also took over recruiting duties for the aforementioned athlete groups during his final three seasons with the Falcons. Notably, Billings earned recognition as the USTFCCCA NCAA DII South Region Assistant Coach of the Year (2021) as he personally worked with Montevallo standout Da'Shaun Morgan, who stands as a two-time NCAA DII South Region Athlete of the Year and three-time Gulf South Conference Athlete of the Year and All-American selection.

Previously, Billings also worked as an assistant at Samford University, his alma mater, during the fall of 2018, handling workout routines for student-athletes in preparation for the upcoming spring campaign while also helping maintain the Bulldogs' home facilities.

During a four-year span from 2014-17, Billings acted as a stud member of the Samford track & field team, primarily competing in the heptathlon (indoor) and decathlon (outdoor) for the men's squad.

Billings received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Samford University in May 2017 and currently resides in Thibodaux, La.

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