Former Jackson State University track and field star David Rop will serve as head coach of the men's and women's cross country teams at Millsaps College in 2005.

Rop replaces Eric Navarre, who coached some of the best runners in school history.

Rop holds a master's degree in mathematics from JSU where he has served as a mathematics instructor since 2001. Rop served as assistant track and field coach for former Millsaps College student-athlete Edmond Donald.

On the track, Rop racked up Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Indoor and Outdoor Cross Country MVP honors from 1996-99 and Rop also qualified for the NCAA Div. I Cross Country Nationals in 1997, 98 and 99.

Rop also qualified for the NCAA Div. I 800m indoor and outdoor regionals in 1997, 98, 99, and 2001. Rop won the Crimson tide Invitational held at the University of Alabama in 1997 and 98.

Rop's best cross country times are 23:39 (5 miles at LSU in 1997) and 29:22 (6.2 miles at the Univ. of Alabama in 1999). Rop's best track times are 1:47 in the 800m (Univ. of Miss. in 2000) and 3:41 in the 1500m (JSU in 2000).