ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University Athletic Department and Athletic Director
Luke Duffy have announced the hiring of
Sarah Lauderdale as the school's first head coach for the women's triathlon program.
Lauderdale, formerly Plant during her college carer, finished up competing as an athlete at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee during the 2024-25 academic year. She was a top-50 finisher at the NCAA Women's Triathlon Championships in the fall of 2024. And since finishing up at ETSU, Lauderdale has become a professional triathlete competing in the Americas Cup where she has collected three top-50 finishers in her last three races.
As a team, East Tennessee State finished eighth as a team at the National Championship for Triathlon in 2024—Plant's senior year.
"I am incredibly honored to be named the head women's triathlon coach at Concord University," Lauderdale said. "I would like to thank
Luke Duffy and Concord President Dr. Bethany Meighen for the opportunity to build this program from the ground up. It is both exciting and meaningful to me."
In addition to competing in the Americas Cup, Lauderdale competed at the U23 Americas Triathlon Championship in the spring of 2024.
"As women's triathlon continues to grow within the NCAA, Concord is stepping into that momentum at an important time, and I am proud to help lead that effort," she said. "Having competed in NCAA triathlon myself, this role carries a special significance. I understand the unique challenges and opportunities this sport provides, and I am committed to creating an environment where student-athletes can thrive."
Triathlon is considered an emerging NCAA sport and hopes to gain championship status with the next year. And Lauderdale will be the first former collegiate triathlete to be the head coach of a college triathlon program—another historic feat for Concord.
"Sarah's experience in competition, both at the collegiate level and now as a professional in the sport made her easy choice as she stood out during the hiring process," Duffy said. "We look forward to her growing the sport of triathlon both on our campus and in the community."
Before becoming a college athlete in triathlon, Lauderdale was an all-state swimmer in Arizona as well as gaining all-state honors in cross country and track and field during her high school career.Lauderdale began competing in triathlon at the age of seven.
She is married to Asher Lauderdale.
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