Camp Director

Coach Herbster’s program has established itself as a dominant force in the Sun Belt, capturing three consecutive conference titles (2023, 2024, and 2025), highlighted by the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Championship. His team first claimed the title in 2023 before repeating as champions in 2024 and continuing the streak with another championship performance in 2025.

During the 2023–2024 season at App State, the Men’s Cross Country team won the Sun Belt Conference Championships and continued their momentum on the national stage. Several weeks later, the Mountaineers placed in the top 10 at the NCAA Regional meet—the program’s highest finish since 2007. Under Coach Herbster’s leadership, five individuals earned Sun Belt All-Conference honors.

Prior to App State, Coach Herbster developed distance runners at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Texas, Clemson University, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He began his coaching career at North Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte.

Camp Assistant Director

Coach Richards led the App State Women’s program to back-to-back victories at the 2024 and 2025 Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Championships. Throughout her time at App State the Mountaineers have updated the record board with a multitude of personal bests and All-Conference finishes including Addison Ollendick-Smith’s 2:08.97 in the 800, Emma Russum’s 16:30.30 in the 5000, and school records in the DMR and 4x800.

Prior to App State, Coach Richards worked with distance runners at The University of New Mexico. While with the Lobos during the 2022 season, Richards assisted the Women’s team to a national runner-up finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. 

Richards spent two years as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Oregon. While with the Ducks, she worked with both men’s and women’s distance programs and helped them to five top-25 NCAA team finishes in Cross Country, Indoor, and Outdoor Track & Field.

Counselor Sign-Up Form

Calling all collegiate student-athlete camp counselors! Come run the trails surrounding Boone and help provide a fun and challenging experience for our campers.

As a paid counselor you'll be provided with housing and meals for the session(s) you work and $200. You will need to arrange your own transportation to/from Boone.

July can be a busy time of year. If you know you can commit please fill out the form above and reach out to Coach Richards with any questions.