Tom Sage enters his 10th season with the Rams for the 2023-24 season. Sage arrived at VCU in 2014 and in the time since has played an integral role in the growth and success of the men’s and women’s programs. Sage oversees the hurdles, vertical jumps, and multis and has assisted in nine women’s Atlantic 10 team titles, over 50 A-10 medalists, 14 - VCU school records, 9 - NCAA East Preliminary Qualifiers, 4 - A10 conference records, and 1 - USATF U20 qualifier.
In 2023- VCU Women's Track & Field continued its run of success, collecting their sixth A-10 indoor team title and ninth overall, and Sage's event groups played a key role in those achievements. VCU hurdlers set four school records in 2023: Symone Foster in the 60-meter hurdles (8.36) and 100-meter hurdles (13.54), Daiqwaun Faircloth in the 110-meter hurdles (13.84), and Emmanuel Waller in the 400-meter hurdles (50.72). Additionally, Foster and Waller set Atlantic 10 Championship records in the 60-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles, respectively. The Rams' hurdlers and high jumpers combined for eight medals at the Atlantic 10 Indoor and Outdoor championships, including wins by Foster in the indoor 60-meter hurdles and Waller in the outdoor 400-meter hurdles. Daiqwaun Faircloth (110m hurdles) and Emmanuel Waller (400m hurdles) qualified to compete in the NCAA East Preliminaries.
In 2022 - The VCU women earned their fifth indoor and eighth overall Atlantic 10 team title, with Sage's athletes collecting four podium finishes. Lauryn Freeman broke the Atlantic 10 meet record in the 60 hurdles with a win and school record in 8.44 seconds, while Dasia Mayo won gold in the high jump. Courtney Higgins also set a school record at the same meet, earning bronze in the pentathlon with 3,629 points. During the outdoor season, Sage led the Rams to a runner-up finish on the women's side and fourth-place finish on the men's side at the Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championships, where his athletes combined for four podium finishes, including wins in the 100 hurdles (SyVanna Metcalfe) and high jump (Nayome Shipp). Senior Emmanuel Waller qualified for his third NCAA East Preliminary meet, competing in the 400 hurdles.
In 2021 - Sage assisted the VCU women in winning their seventh Atlantic 10 team title during the outdoor season. Senior Courtney Higgins won the heptathlon, breaking a 22 year old school record, with a score of 5023. Dasia Mayo finished second the the women’s high jump with a personal best leap of 1.66m. On the men’s side, fifth-year senior Ian Davis broke his own school record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.98, winning the event for the second time in his career. Davis is the first man in VCU history to dip under the 14-second barrier. Senior Lauren Graves broke the pole vault school record at the VCU Last Chance Meet, clearing a height of 3.71m. Emmanuel Waller and Ian Davis qualified to the NCAA Division I East Preliminary, where Davis competed in the 400-meter hurdles and 110-meter hurdles. Waller competed in the 400-meter hurdles, qualifying to the semifinals.
In 2020 - Sage assisted junior Courtney Higgins in setting a school record in the women’s pentathlon and finishing second overall at the indoor A-10 Championships. Ian Davis, for the third year in a row, won the men’s 60-meter hurdles. Xyan XRichardson finished second in the men’s high jump.
In 2019 - Sage assisted the VCU women in winning their sixth A-10 Championship, capturing their third indoor title in a row. Ian Davis Broke the VCU School record in the men’s 60 meter hurdles (7.94) winning the A10 and breaking the conference record. Outdoors, Davis won the men’s 110 meter hurdles at the A10 Championships with teammate Daiqwaun Faircloth finishing in second. The duo of Davis and Faircloth joined Emmanuel Waller in sweeping the men’s 400 meter hurdles, with Waller setting a school and facility record (51.63) at the A10 championships. Davis finished runner up and Faircloth came home with the bronze medal. Waller and Davis both qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary, where Davis broke his own school record in the men’s 110 hurdles (14.07). Faircloth qualified for the USATF U20 championships in the men’s 110 hurdles (39”) and the 400 hurdles, where He finished 4th in the 110 hurdles (13.47).
In 2018 - Sage assisted the VCU women to winning the A10 Indoor & Outdoor Championships. Indoors Ian Davis won the men’s 60 meter hurdles, while De’Nisha Smith scored 20 points winning the women’s 60 meter hurdles and women’s long jump. Outdoors Davis broke the men’s 110 meter hurdles school record (14.40). At the A10 outdoor championships, Olivia Coopwood broke the women’s 400 meter hurdles school record (59.53) winning the event while teammates Kara Lyles and Ann Sheehy finished 3rd and 4th respectively. Davis finished second in the men’s 110 meter hurdles. Smith finished second in the women’s 100 meter hurdles and the women’s long jump. Amiaya Carey finished second in the women’s high jump (1.70m). LeClare Beres finished in third place in the women’s heptathlon. Xyan xRichardson finished third in the men’s high jump both indoors and outdoors. Coopwood qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary in the women’s 400 meter hurdles.
In 2017 - Sage assisted the women to a first place finish at the A10 indoor championships. De’Nisha Smith won the women’s 60 meter hurdles indoors. Ian Davis, in his freshman year, finished second in the men’s 60 meter hurdles. At the outdoor championships Ann Sheehy broke the women’s 400 meter hurdles school record (59.88). Christina Solomon finished third in the women’s high jump (1.70m), Davis finished third in the men’s 110 meter hurdles, and Bashir Idris finished third in the men’s triple jump.
In 2016 - Sage assisted, the women to their first ever A10 outdoor team title. Outdoors Kyle Martin broke the VCU School record in the men’s 110 hurdles (14.48). Xavier Waller finished 3rd at the A10 conference meet in the men’s 110 hurdles.
In 2015 - Sage assisted the women to the program's first ever Atlantic 10 title, capturing the indoor team title. Kyle Martin broke the men’s 60 meter hurdle school record (7.99). Martin also won the A10 indoor title in the event. Alexis Stroman finished second in the women’s 60 meter hurdles, and Xavier Waller finished 3rd in both the men’s heptathlon and 60 meter hurdles at the A10 indoor championships.
Prior to his time at VCU - Sage served as an assistant coach at the University of New Orleans where he helped transition the Privateers back into the Division I ranks. The Privateers qualified three to the NCAA East Preliminary Round and one to NCAA National Championships.
In 2013 - Sage spent the first semester working with the Longhorns at the University of Texas. Sage worked alongside former associate head coach and three-time Olympian Tonja Buford-Bailey. While at UT, Sage’s main responsibilities included working with the sprints and hurdles while being tasked with running individual practices as well as serving as a recruiting coordinator.
In the summer of 2013, Sage assisted Buford-Bailey in working with post collegiate hurdler Andrew Riley. Sage accompanied Riley to the JAAA Jamaican National Senior Championships where Riley won the 110m hurdles advancing him to the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. Capping off his rookie season as a professional, Riley finished 8th at the World Championships while consistently posting times that ranked in the top 10 in the world.
In 2012 - Sage worked as a volunteer assistant with Buford-Bailey and Mike Erb at the University of Illinois. The Fighting Illini won the 2013 Big Ten Indoor Champions and finished in 14th place finish at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor National Championships.
Sage assisted Buford-Bailey in coaching Ashley Spencer to a second straight national championship in the 400m. After leaving Illinois, Sage's resume included working and assisting with 1 NCAA National Champion, 12 NCAA All-Americans, 10 Illinois School Records, and 9 Individual Big Ten Champions.
In 2011 - Sage served under former Head Coach Randy Bungard as a graduate assistant coach at Texas A&M University Corpus-Christi. Working specifically with the men's and women's throws, jumps and multis, Sage's athletes set school records in the men's and women's high jump, women's javelin, shot put, discus, and heptathlon, in all totaling 7 school records.
Prior to his coaching experience, Sage competed as a decathlete at Marquette University. He was a consistent Conference USA & Big East conference qualifier and point scorer. Sage was a multiple IC4A qualifier.
A native of New Berlin, WI, Sage earned his Bachelor's from Marquette University. Sage resides in Richmond, Va., with his wife Jessica.
