Former UF cross country coach Jeff Pigg has left the program for the same position at Georgia, the Bulldogs athletic association announced Monday.
Pigg, a UF alum, was going into his sixth year as coach in Gainesville.
"Coach Pigg brings a lot of experience to the position," Georgia track coach Wayne Norton said in a statement. "He has done a very good job over the last few years at Florida, so our staff and team are excited to have him here. He has fit in very well with everyone in the program.
"He will do a good job of building on the successes that our previous distance coaches have achieved."
Pigg took the Gators to their first ever NCAA Championship appearance in 2006. And the women placed 11th in 2007, their best finish ever.
"I am really excited to have this opportunity at the University of Georgia because I truly believe this is a great school," Pigg said in a statement. "I'm excited to be working with Coach Norton and the rest of the staff here. They are a well-respected group across the nation, and I look forward to being a part of the group.
"I am ready to go to work. My goal is to continue to build on the recent success that this program has had, and I believe we can be very competitive at a national level year in and year out."
Todd Morgan is set to take over the UF cross country program. Morgan is going into his third season at UF and was an assistant his first year here.
To help ease the loss of Pigg, Gators track and field coach Mike Holloway announced Wednesday that they've hired Brian O'Neal, who spent 15 years at Mississippi, as an assistant coach.
"I am very excited with the opportunity to join the Florida track and field family," O'Neal said in a statement released by the UAA. "I look forward to the challenge of helping Coach Holloway and the rest of the staff reach the goals he has set in place."
O'Neal will oversee all the women's hurdles events, as well as the men's 110 hurdles. He will also assist Holloway with the sprints and relays.
"I am extremely pleased to be adding Brian O'Neal to our track and field staff," Holloway said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge in several areas, and his passion for the sport is at a very high level. He will fit in well with our staff here."
