Anne Akagi-Koons joined the High Point University Track & Field/Cross Country staff in July of 2026.
"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."
She comes to HPU 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.
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.
