| Title: | Head Men's and Women's Cross Country/Track |
| Email: | sshores@uarichmountain.edu |
Coach Samantha Shores is the longest tenured coach at UARM and started the Bucks Cross Country program with great success. Overall, Coach Shores has won 6 Region II Championships and 3 of her teams were Region II Runner-Ups out of 12 opportunities. Coach Shores won 3 straight Men's Region II Championships (2018-2020). In 2021 & 2023, the men were Region 2 Runner-Ups. On the women's side, she won three Region 2 Championships (2018, 2020, & 2021) and finished as Region 2 Runners-Up in 2019.
The Bucks have competed each year in the National Championship. After dropping down to Division II in 2020, both the men and women of Bucks Cross Country have been staples in the top 20 polls.
During her 6 year tenure, the Bucks have been very successful in and out of the classroom. Coach Shores has coached one Cross Country All-American: Eva Miranda-Gudino (Springdale, AR). She also has produced 13 Academic All-Americans, 3 Academic All-Stars at UARM (Marlenne Mendez, Robert McIntyre, & Anthony Sanchez), and has had three teams named as NJCAA All-Academic Teams: 21-22 Women's Cross Country, 21-22 Men's Cross Country, & 22-23 Men's Track.
Coach Shores was named the NJCAA DII Central Region Women's Coach of the Year in 2021.
Coach Shores holds a Master's Degree in Exericse Physiology and also teaches as an adjunct instructor at UARM.