BY BAYLEE JUSTIS COBB, Eastern Shore Post —
Meghan Chaffins, a native of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, is working hard to show college athletes that their dreams can come true, just as hers did a few years ago. She had the opportunity to play two sports at the collegiate level, and she “took a leap of faith” this past year to be an assistant track and field coach for Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio.
In 2014, she began her stellar career at Holly Grove Christian School, where she played four years of varsity volleyball and varsity track and field. She also was a part of the cheerleading squad all four years.
While she loved each sport, track and field is where she truly shined. She competed at the Northeast Regional Track meet all four years of high school and was named MVP for three consecutive years. She was runner-up for MVP during her senior season in 2017.
She entertained visits and offers from various schools, but she ultimately decided to continue her athletic career at Randolph College in Lynchburg. “As soon as I stepped foot out of the car onto the campus, I looked at my family and told them I was going here (Randolph),” said Chaffins.
She was mainly recruited for track and field, but shortly after her first visit, she found herself speaking to the head volleyball coach and her name was quickly added to the roster. She explained that the “selling point” for her was having the opportunity to play two sports at the college level and meeting great professors, administrators, and coaches during her visits.
Chaffin’s main events in track were long jump, triple jump, and high jump, but she also ran relays and short sprints occasionally. Because her college years were during the COVID-19 pandemic, she gained an extra year of eligibility and chose to dedicate that year to track and field and her master’s program.
Chaffins graduated with two bachelor’s degrees, in communication studies and sport and exercise studies, as well as a master’s degree in coaching and sports leadership. She set seven track and field Division III records, four of which are still current, and four O.D.A.C. medals. Additionally, she won the most improved award for volleyball and rookie of the year for track in 2018. She was named MVP of the track team for four consecutive years and won female athlete of the year in 2021.
Chaffins explained that playing at the college level taught her many lessons, but that balance, time management, and work ethic were the most important. “Playing two sports in college made me work hard for what I wanted. I set higher goals for myself, and it made me realize what I wanted in life, both in sports and out of sports,” she said.
Though her college years were busy with constant athletic and academic duties, she believes that her teammates, coaches, and the entire community at Randolph allowed her to be a successful athlete and an even better person. “Randolph really showed me that your dreams and goals are achievable, and you can do anything as long as you set your mind to it and you’re willing to put in the work,” she said. She carried those beliefs into her role as a coach and hopes to show her players the same while establishing genuine connections with them.
“I chose this career because I want to help mentor the younger generation. I take the approach of my kids are a person first, a student second, and an athlete third. Who they are as a person matters most. I want them to be mentally, spiritually, and emotionally healthy,” Chaffins explained.
Though her coaching career just began, she has greatly contributed to college track and field already. Chaffins coached one NCCAA All-American during her time at Regent University. Since being at Heidelberg, she has coached one athlete to an All-OAC third place finish in the long jump and another athlete to break the school’s triple jump record that stood for 39 years.
In the next five years, Chaffins hopes to be a head coach for a Division III program. She loves Ohio and would love to stay there but is not opposed to coaching opportunities elsewhere. For now, she is excited to keep growing as an assistant coach and for this upcoming track and field season.
