John Weaver, a longtime head coach of Appalachian State University’s men’s and women’s track and field programs, was honored with a plaza named after him at the Randy Marion Track and Field Facility. The dedication took place on September 5 at the Appalachian 105 Sports Complex in Boone. The ceremony recognized both Weaver and his wife, Cynthia Weaver, for their contributions to App State student-athletes and the local community.
The event was attended by current and former student-athletes, coaches, and friends of the Weaver family. App State Chancellor Heather Norris said, “App State is proud to honor you, coach Weaver, for your incredible career. Because of who you are — known to be a kind and caring person with an incredible family and a remarkable career — you have inspired so many students, staff and community members to give back to their communities and their university.”
Weaver retired in 2018 after nearly four decades as a coach. He began leading the women’s track and field program in 1982 before later coaching both men’s and women’s teams. Doug Gillin, App State Director of Athletics, stated: “Coach Weaver built a Hall of Fame legacy from the time he was first named head coach of App State’s women’s track and field program in 1982 until he retired from the university in 2018. His impact on generations of App State student-athletes and in the High Country is immeasurable, and this plaza stands as a tribute to his remarkable career and achievements.”
Despite his many accomplishments, Weaver emphasized humility about his career: “I don’t really feel like I define my life by accolades,” said Weaver. “I define my life by whether I did it right or not. If I can be a representative of what this program is, so that people will know that something really special is going on here, has gone on here and will go on here — then I’ve done my job.”
In addition to his coaching work at the university, John Weaver supported several charity races in the region. Cynthia Weaver volunteered for more than two decades with local arts organizations such as An Appalachian Summer festival.
Appalachian State University competes in NCAA Division I athletics across 17 varsity sports; its football team has achieved significant success since moving up to FBS level with multiple bowl wins https://www.appstatesports.com. The university enrolls over 21,000 students across undergraduate and graduate programs at its Boone and Hickory campuses https://www.appstate.edu.
