On Monday, former North Hall and Gainesville cross country coach Richard Ludwig was named Brenau University’s first coach for its newest intercollegiate sport, track and field.

Ludwig was a standout in the long jump and triple jump for the University of Georgia and was captain of the team his senior year. He stayed on as an assistant under coach Lewis Gainey, who in 1976 and 1977 led the Bulldogs to back-to-back Southeastern Conference championships.

From 1980-85, Ludwig taught and served as head track and cross country coach at North Hall. Since then, his coaching has been volunteer work with running clubs, including Lanier Lightning and Lanier Running Club Junior Olympics, and at Gainesville High.

Among the athletes Ludwig has coached are UGA’s four-time All-American and 1976 U.S. Olympic team high jumper James A. Barrineau Jr. and Gainesville’s 2009 USA Today pole vaulter of the year and USA Track and Field National Champion Paul Malquist, who is now a sophomore on the UGA team.

Ludwig will assume the Brenau position this February and take on the challenge of finding 15 to 20 ready-to-compete athletes for the spring 2013 season, with a goal to grow to about 30 members competing in all events.