Head Coach

Coach Tom Dever will enter his second seaon as Head Coach of the Gulf Coast State College Women's Cross Country Team in the Fall of 2025.

 In his first season leading the Lady Commodores Cross Country program, Coach Dever guided his team to an impressive year full of milestones and history-making moments. The Lady Commodores finished in third place at the FCSAA/NJCAA Division II Region 8 Women’s Cross Country Championship.

At the championship meet, sophomore Emily Hull led the way, finishing 7th overall with a time of 21:26.60. Freshman Adriana Cruz-Betancourth was close behind in 12th place with a time of 21:41.30. Katelynne James crossed the line in 16th place at 21:57.80, followed by Bailey Martinek in 22nd with 22:26.60 and Jaden Ferrell in 26th at 22:38.60.

The highlight of the season came at the 2024 Gulf Coast State College Invitational, where the Lady Commodores claimed their first team victory of the season. They defeated Tallahassee State, Pensacola State, and Enterprise State. Cruz-Betancourth led the pack, taking first place with an impressive time of 21:49.57. Hull finished second at 21:57.13, and James grabbed third place at 22:10.57.

The Lady Commodores dominated the meet with strong performances throughout. Keiley Hickman placed fourth (22:34.10), Jaden Ferrell came in fifth (22:40.92), and Bailey Martinek placed sixth (22:46.16). Hannah DaCosta finished ninth with a time of 23:31.76. Also finishing strong were LeMay Sullivan (23:51.89), Madison McMillan (24:40.87), Vivian Patterson (24:47.91), and Jaila Hall (26:58.61).

Cruz-Betancourth’s performance made history, as she became the first Lady Commodore to earn FCSAA Runner of the Week honors.

On September 18, 2024, the Lady Commodores earned a national ranking of 22nd in the country, marking another major achievement for the program.

Coach Dever is a seasoned distance runner and esteemed distance running coach with an impressive history of success spanning over two decades. With a passion for both running and coaching, Dever has cultivated a reputation for excellence, consistently achieving high-level results for himself and the athletes under his guidance.

Coach Dever's journey in the world of distance running began over 20 years ago, igniting a lifelong dedication to the sport. Transitioning seamlessly into coaching, he has amassed over 15 years of experience at both high school and collegiate levels, honing his leadership skills and nurturing the talents of aspiring athletes.

In 2019, Dever assumed the role of Head Boys and Girls Cross Country Coach at Arnold High Schools in Panama City Beach, FL, leaving a lasting impact as five of his coached runners went on to compete at the collegiate level. Notably, Eddie Hearn, under Dever's tutelage, secured an individual state title in the 800 meters and earned a scholarship at the University of Florida. Additionally, Carson King set school records for the 1600 meters and 3200 meters at the University of West Florida.

Prior to his tenure at Arnold High Schools, Dever served as the Head Boys and Girls Cross Country Coach and Track and Field Coach at Terre Haute North Vigo High School in Indiana from 2014 to 2018, and as an assistant coach from 2005 to 2013. His contributions led to the development of six collegiate runners, including John Mascari, who set a school record for the 3200 meters and achieved third place overall in the state.

Dever's coaching prowess is complemented by his exceptional individual running achievements. Having completed 43 marathons, he has claimed multiple USATF national titles in master and grand master ranks across distances ranging from a mile to a half marathon, further solidifying his status as a formidable presence in the running community.

With a relentless dedication to excellence and a proven track record of success, Tom Dever continues to inspire and empower runners to reach their full potential, both on and off the track.