Erskine Cross Country Coach Stepping Down John Showalter is retiring as head coach of the Erskine College men’s and women’s cross country teams, Athletic Director Chip Sherer said Tuesday. Showalter, who arrived at Erskine in 1974, has coached the men’s team since 1989 and has coached the women’s team since it was started in 1994. A professor of psychology at Erskine, Showalter will continue to teach, Sherer said. Showalter said he thinks it is time to turn the programs over to someone else. “It’s been a great way to know students outside the classroom,” the coach said. “The social aspect was as good as anything else.” Showalter said he told the teams about his decision Monday night. “Telling them was one of the toughest things I’ve had to do as a coach,” he said. “Typically, they’ve been understanding and supportive.” Showalter said he became the men’s coach in 1989 “because I liked running and (then-athletic director Bill Lesesne) needed some help.” “John has provided fine leadership and stability to those two teams,” Sherer said. “We’re certainly going to miss him serving in those roles.” Erskine has won three championships since joining the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference and Showalter has coached two of those teams — the 1997 women’s cross country team and the 1998 men’s cross country team. Sherer said the cross country teams have been “very successful.” “They have maintained consistency,” he said. “One of the challenges is that the other teams in the conference have gotten better and the conference has been getting stronger in cross country.” Showalter received his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech, then earned his master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Purdue University. Mark Peeler, head men’s basketball coach who will take over as athletic director when Sherer steps down June 30, said the college will advertise the position to seek a replacement for Showalter.