WESTMINSTER, Md. - On Wednesday, McDaniel College Director of Athletics Jeremy Shepherd announced that assistant cross country and track & field coach Brittany Lang has been promoted to head coach of the women's cross country and track & field teams.

Lang takes over for Doug Renner who will continue his duties as head coach of the men's cross country and track & field teams. Renner served as head coach of the women's cross country team for 39 years from 1985-2023, head coach of the women's outdoor track & field team for 32 years from 1991-2019 and 2021-24 and head coach of the women's indoor track & field team for 28 years from 1993-2019 and 2021-24.

"In order to best support the needs of our student-athletes and coaches in these sports, I decided to separate the men's and women's track and cross-country teams," said Shepherd. "Doug Renner was extremely supportive of this move and I believe Brittany will do a great job leading the women's programs and I look forward to the future success of those programs under Brittany's leadership."

During her two years on The Hill, Lang has helped mentor Bailey Mullen and Katie Morgan who combined for six school records, three conference championships, and two all-region selections.

"I am extremely excited about this transition, and the opportunity to focus on the growth and development of our female student athletes and the program as a whole," said Lang. "I appreciate the support of Coach Renner and our administration as I take on this new role, and can't wait to see what the future holds." 

Lang came to McDaniel in the fall of 2022 after two seasons as a graduate assistant at Goucher College while completing her master's degree in Sports Administration and Leadership.

A 2020 graduate of the University of Maryland who received her bachelor's degree in Communication Studies, Lang spent three seasons on the women's cross country and track & field teams for the Terrapins. She served as a team captain and earned All-Region Honors at the 2019 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals after placing 16th in a personal-best time of 20:40.4.

Lang transferred to Maryland after one season at the University of North Florida where she helped lead the Ospreys to a third-place finish at 2016 Atlantic Sun Cross Country Championships. She finished 15th in the championship meet and was named to the 2016 ASUN All-Freshmen Team. In track & field, she earned All-Atlantic Sun Third Team honors in the 3,000 meters at the 2017 ASUN Indoor Track & Field Championships.

"This is the perfect time in program history to have separate men's and women's head coaches in cross country and track & field," said Renner. "Brittany has matured into a top coach. She understands our training and competing philosophies and has helped shape our success in her time here on The Hill. We are committed to embracing the co-ed training model which has long been a staple of success."

A Maryland native, Lang attended nearby Oakland Mills High School where she competed in cross country and track & field. She was the Class 2A cross country state champion and took home the 2016 2A state title in the 3,200 meters. She also competed in the mile at the 2015 New Balance Emerging Elite, finishing sixth.

Lang began her first day as head coach of the McDaniel women's cross country and track & field teams on June 12.