UPIKE Athletics

After founding the men's and women's cross country programs at UPike, John Biery was named Athletics Relations and Special Events in August 2025. In doing so, he will be involved in fund raising and assisting in the overall efforts of the University of Pikeville athletics department. 

Biery started the cross-country program in 1998 and took six different runners to the NAIA National Championships eight times in the first 10 seasons. Biery’s first runner to earn a trip to nationals was Rhett Mosley in 1998.

Biery was named the 2002 Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year in men’s cross country and the 2004 NAIA Regional Coach of the Year in women’s cross country.

A 1988 graduate of then Pikeville College with a BBA, Biery has been employed at UPIKE for nearly his entire career. During that time, he has served as associate director of admissions, assistant to the dean of students, assistant men's basketball coach and one season in 2005-06 as head women’s golf coach.

John and his wife Melissa reside in Salyersville and have two children, Jordan and Sara.

 Mid-South Conference Cross Country Finishes

* Pikeville competed in the KIAC from 1998-99, no results available.

*Biery did not coach during the 2008 and 2009 seasons