A fixture at Clayton State since November of 1990 as public information assistant and sports information director, Mead enters his ninth  season in developing the Laker cross country program. A standout runner at West Georgia, Mead has utilized his running experience in building a competitive collegiate program.

The 2003 track season produced 15 school records and the program's first male national qualifier for the Division II National Championships, as Tony Juarez provisionally qualified for the 1500m event. In 2002, the Lakers  had their first All-American as Joni Guffey, a two-time participant in the NCAA Track & Field Championships placed sixth in the 1500m nationals with a time of 4:34.53. Several runners, including Juarez and Guffey, have won individual events ranging from the 1500m, 5,000m and 10,000m to the  women's discus and men's high jump.

In eight cross country seasons, Mead has had 25 all-conference, 12 all-region and 13 all-state selections. After leading the 1996 women's team to the NAIA national meet, Mead guided the 1997 Lady Lakers to a No. 23 NCAA Division II national ranking in the program's first season at the NCAA level. In his first three seasons, Mead was tabbed Coach of the Year in the NAIA Southeast Region, NAIA Southeast Independent Region, and three times in the Peach Belt Conference.  In addition, his women's team has garnered the All-Academic Team trophy for three straight years (1999-2002), and he has had two of his male runners garner and one female runner win the Laker and Lady Laker awards, respectively.

While at West Georgia, he helped the cross country team to consecutive appearances at the NCAA Division II Championships in 1978-79. He was a two-time all-conference and one-time Georgia Collegiate all-state runner. In track and field, Mead represented West Georgia at three NCAA Division II Championships in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. He holds four track records including the steeplechase (9:08.7), indoor mile (4:18) and indoor two-mile (9:14).

Before West Georgia, Mead ran two seasons at NJCAA powerhouse Southwestern Michigan College. He competed in two NJCAA national meets, including the 1977 cross country championships in which SMC finished second.  Following college, Mead ran for the Atlanta Track Club and Athletics South competitive teams during the early 80's. He helped direct several road races in Carrollton and Americus and set personal bests on the road of 30:54 for the 10K, 24:47 for 8K, and 14:35 for 5K.

Mead holds a bachelor of arts degree in speech and master's degree in public administration from West Georgia. Before coming to Clayton State, he worked for daily newspapers in Carrollton and Americus and worked two years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He also served as SID at Georgia Southwestern for two years.

Besides his coaching duties, Mead serves as Assistant Director of Athletics. He is also active in the community, serving as the chairman for Clayton Youth Leadership. He is an active member of CoSIDA and holds membership in the United State Track Coaches Association.  Mead and his wife, Alison, reside in nearby Lake City.

Toro enters his ninth  season with the Clayton State cross country  program after 17 years of coaching at the high school level. Toro spends his days teaching physical education at Oakland Elementary School in nearby Henry County after teaching from 1986-2001 at Fountain Elementary School in Forest Park.

Like head coach Mike Mead, Toro is a graduate of West Georgia. Toro competed in cross country while at West Georgia, earning all-conference and team MVP honors in 1976. He earned bachelor of science degrees in education and recreation and a master's degree in education.

In 1978, he became a physical education teacher and coached the cross country and track programs at former Babb Junior High School. In 1980, Toro became the athletic director at Fountain Junior High School and held that position until the school became an elementary school in 1986.

Toro got his first taste of high school coaching in 1979 when he began as a volunteer coach at Forest Park High School. In 1981, he took over as head coach in mid-season and guided Forest Park to a 10th place showing at the state cross country championships.

While at Riverdale, Toro coached Kevin Graham, who was a AAAA state champion in cross country his senior year. Prior to coming to Clayton State, Toro coached at Morrow High School for four seasons.

Toro has continued to be an avid runner after college, winning numerous road races and running in every Peachtree Road Race since 1973. He lives in Locust Grove and his  19-year-old son Christopher attends Georgia Southern.