Meet Fiol: Winthrop University’s New Assistant Coach for Track & Field/Cross Country!

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Winthrop University’s head men’s and women’s track and field/cross country coach, Raffael Craig, has exciting news: Aidan Fiol is joining the team.

Craig expressed enthusiasm about this addition, noting, “We are lucky to have Coach Fiol join our staff. He’s already making an impact with the distance group and introducing some innovative ideas to the program.”

Fiol comes to Rock Hill with impressive experience. He spent three seasons at Tulsa, where he helped the team win back-to-back cross country conference titles. Under his guidance, Tulsa also secured a Midwest Regional Championship and finished ninth at the NCAA Cross Country Championship. Additionally, he played a key role in the men’s track and field team’s strong performance, which led to a runner-up finish at the 2025 Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Before his time at Tulsa, Fiol was a volunteer assistant with the University of Arkansas men’s program. There, he contributed to the Razorbacks’ impressive streak of top-four NCAA Cross Country finishes and helped them secure two SEC triple crowns. His efforts were recognized when the program received the John McDonnell Program of the Year award for 2020–21. During this period, he worked closely with numerous athletes, including nine First Team and four Second Team All-Americans.

Fiol has a solid academic background, having graduated from the University of Connecticut. He started his coaching journey as a graduate assistant for both the men’s and women’s teams, focusing on training, recruiting, and team operations. He holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in kinesiology, specializing in exercise science.

Bringing in a coach like Fiol indicates Winthrop’s commitment to enhancing its track and field program. Coaches with proven track records can significantly elevate team performance, as seen in various studies that show programs with strong leadership tend to outperform others. With fresh talent and ideas, the team is poised for success in upcoming seasons.

For more information on track and field coaching trends, you can explore the National Federation of State High School Associations’ insights here.

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