HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point University Track & Field and Cross Country announced the hiring of Anne Akagi-Koons and Zach Ferrara to serve as HPU assistant coaches. Akagi-Koons has been hired as the assistant women's distance coach, while Ferrara will work directly with men's and women's pole vault.

With the additions, HPU Director of Track & Field/ Cross Country Remy Tamer has promoted coaches within the program. Shamoya Pruitt and Collin Post will be promoted to associate head coach while Scott Hall will move into the role of general manager.

Anne Akagi-Koons - Assistant Coach
 
Akagi-Koons joins High Point after spending the 2025-26 season at Radford University where she served as an assistant coach for the distance program. She is no stranger to the Big South Conference as she began her coaching career at Charleston Southern volunteering for the Buccaneers after graduating in 2024 following an exceptional five-year collegiate career.
 
"I am very excited and honored to join the High Point University Track & Field and Cross Country staff and for the opportunity to continue the tradition of Panther excellence," Akagi-Koons said. "Coach Esposito and Coach Tamer have set a strong standard for success, and I look forward to continuing to push the distance program to new heights at the regional and national level." 
 
While at Radford, Akagi-Koons worked with both the men's and women's Track & Field and Cross Country distance groups and helped oversee the first indoor and outdoor seasons for men's track since 2014. With Akagi-Koons' guidance, the men's distance squad broke two indoor records in the 1000m and 3000m, hit 15 top-10 marks for indoor track, and made 12 top-10 marks for outdoor track. She coached the women to a third-place finish at the Big South Conference cross country championships and led the women's distance squad to a new indoor record in the mile, five top-10 marks for indoor, and four top-10 marks for outdoor.
 
At Charleston Southern, Akagi-Koons ranked top 10 in school history for nine separate events for indoor and outdoor making her one of the most established runners for the Buccaneers. She holds records in the outdoor 800m and 1500m, which she broke in her final spring season with Charleston Southern. Koons also accompanied her DMR relay squad in breaking the school record with an 11:46.26 time, which ranked third best in Big South history.  
 
Akagi-Koons and her husband Matthew have been married for three years.
 
Zach Ferrara - Assistant Coach

Zach Ferrara joins the HPU Track & Field program as a pole vault coach after contributing seven years at Nazareth University. While at Nazareth, Ferrera was named Niagara Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2024. Before he started his full-time coaching career, he volunteered at his Alma Mater, the College at Brockport.

"Entering into a prestigious program, I am thrilled to join the HPU staff and continue the pole vault legacy," Ferrara said. "To me, High Point University has all of the elements to thrive as a coach, and guide student-athletes to achieve their potential. Thank you, HPU administration, for this opportunity. I am prepared and excited for the upcoming season!"
 
Ferrara led two pole vaulters to two NCAA Championships in 2024 and 2025. He helped guide seven women's pole vaulters to win Empire 8 Conference Championships for indoor and outdoor. On the men's side, he coached two Empire 8 Conference Champions.
 
Ferrara also assisted in coaching four multi-event conference champions, while sending 10 pole vaulters to multiple AARTF regional competitions since 2020. Since Ferrara took over as pole vault coach, all of Nazareth's pole vault records have been broken.
 
While in New York, Ferrara was a Health Project Coordinator and Exercise Specialist with the University of Rochester. Ferrara coordinated a novel physical education program through the Center of Human Musculoskeletal Performance and Prevention (CHAMPP), in the City of Rochester. The CHAMPP program positively impacted students and student athletes in public, private, and parochial school districts. Accompanying his role with the UR, Ferrara assisted with strength and conditioning for the athletes on the Nazareth track and field team. 
 
As a collegiate athlete, Ferrara was named the 2013 Male Athlete of the Year at Brockport after winning the 2013 Indoor NCAA Division III Championship in the pole vault. The school record holder in the pole vault earned three All-American awards and was a three-time SUNYAC champion. His academic awards include the Outstanding Graduate Student award at Brockport and the 2013 USTFCCCA Indoor Track and Field Scholar Athlete of the Year.

The 2013 graduate of The College at Brockport earned a degree in Physical Education and went on to earn a master's degree in physical education also from Brockport. Ferrara was inducted into The College at Brockport Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023. 

Ferrara was a graduate assistant coach at Brockport before coaching at the Spencerport, Kendall and Brockport school districts. In addition, he has helped coordinate the Brockport Pole Vault clinic since 2014. Ferrara himself is a 5.49m (18') pole vaulter born in Rochester, NY. 

Ferrara and his wife, Ali, have two children, Carson and Kallan.

Staff Promotions

HPU Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Remy Tamer has promoted two assistant coaches to associate head coaching roles – Collin Post and Shamoya Pruitt. Post will continue to coach the throwing events and Pruitt will continue to work with the sprints, hurdles, and horizontal jumps. HPU has added a new role to its staff with Dr. Scott Hall becoming the first-ever HPU Track & Field General Manager. Dr. Hillary Holmes will also stay on staff for her fifth season as an assistant coach for the combined events and high jump. 
 
During the 2025-26 season, Post guided three athletes to the NCAA East First Rounds. Ashlyn Giles, who holds the indoor and outdoor Big South and program shot put records, competed in both the shot put and discus. Vanessa Kobialka, who holds the HPU discus record, also joined Giles in the discus at the First Rounds. On the men's side, Caleb Barley represented High Point in the shot put.
 
Pruitt had another strong season leading HPU's men's and women's sprints, hurdles, and horizontal jumps. During the indoor season, Justin Sluijter competed at the NCAA Championships in the long jump after setting the program, Big South and Big South Championship meet record at the Big South Championships with a 7.89m mark. During the outdoor season, Sluijter (long jump), along with Gianna Paul (long jump) and Zamesha Myle (triple jump) qualified for the NCAA East First Rounds in their respective events.

"The promotions of Shamoya Pruitt and Collin Post, along with the additions of Anne Akagi-Koons and Zach Ferrara, demonstrate our commitment to building one of the premier track & field and cross-country programs in the country," HPU Deputy AD Drew Sanchez said. "Shamoya and Collin have earned these opportunities through their outstanding leadership and dedication to our student-athletes, while Anne and Zach bring valuable experience and fresh perspectives that will elevate our program. We are excited to see this talented staff continue to build on our success and under Remy Tamer's leadership help our student-athletes achieve excellence on the track, in the classroom, and beyond." 
 
Hall has been a part of the HPU Track & Field program since 2015. As the general manager, Hall will work closely with the staff to oversee all administrative duties.
 
This past season, Holmes coached Cole Wilson and Mya Hines to the NCAA Outdoor Championships as Wilson was named a Second Team All-American, finishing ninth in the decathlon with a program and Big South record 7,855 points. Now as a HPU alum, Wilson will join the staff as the HPU Director of Operations/Assistant Coach.