Long-distance running is a major part of Coach Lucas Roof’s life. He and his family go on runs together on a regular basis in various locations. His wife (Coach Miranda Roof), his daughter Lila, and he enjoy the adventure of running somewhere new!
Coach Lucas graduated from Fannin County High School in 2000. He then obtained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and mathematics education from the University of Georgia (UGA) and received a master’s degree in educational psychology from UGA. He used his education at UGA to become a mathematics teacher at Forsyth Central High School in
Cumming, GA where he also coached cross country and track & field. When Lucas coached cross country at Forsyth Central High School he helped lead and mentor multiple runners to personal best times, top-10 state rankings, and college scholarships. However, the most important part of his coaching stint is that he turned many high-school kids onto the sport of running that may have never grown to appreciate this amazing sport!
Although Coach Lucas participated in cross country while in high school, he did not fall in love with the sport of long-distance running or realize he had a talent for long-distance running until later on in life when he was coaching at Forsyth Central High School. Since that point, Coach Lucas has competed in many races including 5Ks, 10Ks, half-marathons, and marathons. He ran his best 5K at the age of 40 with a time of 16:57.
In 2014, Coach Lucas and his family moved to Fannin County where he currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer and Assistant Superintendent for the Fannin County School System and is currently in the process of obtaining his doctorate degree from UGA. While in Fannin County, Coach Lucas helps his wife, Coach Miranda, start a successful running club at West Fannin Elementary School. He now assists Coach Miranda with coaching the long-distance runners on the Fannin County High School Track & Field team. In the spring of 2022, he helped coach a boy and a girl to medaling performances at the GHSA State Championships. This was the first time that a long-distance runner in Fannin County made the podium at the state championships in over a decade. He also trains and mentors middle-school and high-school runners during the off-season. His favorite part about coaching continues to be showing the athletes how exciting and rewarding long-distance running can truly be!
Coach Lucas is extremely honored and excited to begin this journey of coaching with Gotta Run Kids. He cannot wait to help a new group of runners unlock their potential, be better than they were yesterday, and have fun!