Justin Wagner enters his third year at Murray State College and second season leading the Murray State College Cross Country Team in 2024-25. In just the second cross country event of their inaugural season, the Aggie men’s team won first place at the Carl Albert State College XC Meet. The Murray State College cross country teams set 12 PRs at Regionals, had runners win three individual medals throughout the season, and had a runner win the NJCAA DII Runner of the Week Award. The Aggie men’s cross country team finished the season as the No. 1 junior college in Oklahoma, while the women’s team finished as the No. 2 team. Both Murray State College Cross Country teams qualified for Nationals and finished in the top third of the country. Meanwhile, the Lady Aggies Cross Country team was also named a NJCAA All-Academic Team for their success in the classroom as well.
The following year, the Murray State College women’s cross country team received votes in the NJCAA Top 25 Coaches Poll for the first time in program history. The Lady Aggies also earned a third-place finish at Regionals as both Aggie Cross Country teams qualified for Nationals for the second consecutive year. For the second year in a row, Murray State College had a runner win the NJCAA DII Runner of the Week Award.
Wagner arrived in Tishomingo back in August of 2023 with seven years of coaching and recruiting experience and has served as men's basketball assistant along with Sports Information Director duties since his arrival at Murray State. He began recruiting cross country student athletes dating back to his time at Eastern Nazarene College in 2016.Â
Prior to Murray State College, Wagner was an assistant coach on the men's basketball staff for the University of Arkansas-Monticello from 2021-2023. He also served as the Assistant Athletic Director for External Affairs and Game Day Operations/Facilities at UAM. Last season, Wagner helped the Weevils improve their three-point shooting from 34.6% to 40.5%, which ranked them No. 2 in NCAA Division II for Three-Point Percentage. Justin was also responsible for running basketball camps that totaled over 500 campers during the first summer at UAM and the creation of the first-ever "Billie" Basketball Game where Monticello Elementary/Intermediate Students were able to attend the UAM basketball game during their school day.Â
Prior to the University of Arkansas-Monticello, Wagner worked on the Lyon College men's basketball staff for three seasons. During those years, the Scots posted the best regular-season record since the 1984-85 season, recorded the most victories in the regular season since the 1983-84 season, and captured the first American Midwest Conference regular season title in school history during the 2020-21 season. The Scots finished the 2020-21 season No. 1 in the nation in points per game allowed, No. 7 in points per possession, and Top-25 in both field goal percentage defense and three-point field goal percentage defense.
Before Lyon College, Justin worked at his alma mater - Eastern Nazarene College - in Massachusetts for two seasons. He was an assistant men's basketball coach while also working as an enrollment counselor and completing his masters. Prior to coaching, Wagner played both basketball and baseball at Eastern Nazarene College. While there, he helped lead the men's basketball program to the best four-year winning percentage in program history.
Wagner completed his first half marathon at the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in 2025.Â
