The Lynchburg City School Board approved the Superintendent’s recommendation to appoint Nelson Garner as the new Athletic Director of E. C. Glass High School at their work session on April 8, 2025.
Garner brings 16 years of experience as an athletic director to the division. He currently serves as the Director of Athletics at Union County Public Schools (UCPS) in North Carolina, where he’s spearheaded sixth through 12th-grade athletics programs since 2019.
Previously, he served as an Athletic Director and physical education teacher at Parkwood High School and Cuthbertson Middle School under UCPS. He has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from James Madison University and a master’s degree in sport and recreation sciences from Ohio University.
“E. C. Glass is a cornerstone of high school athletics in Virginia. I’m confident Mr. Garner will uphold the school’s tradition of excellence and elevate the program to even greater heights, building on the incredible work of the leaders who have come before him,” said Lynchburg City Schools (LCS) Deputy Superintendent of Operations & Strategic Planning Reid Wodicka.
The E. C. Glass athletics program boasts a legacy of excellence that includes more than 40 state titles in football, basketball, track, tennis, lacrosse, and more. Nelson succeeds the school’s current Athletic Director, Elizabeth Masencup, who has steered the program to success over 9 incredible years of service.
“These past nine years as the Athletic Director at E. C. Glass have been some of the most rewarding of my career. I’ve had the privilege of working with dedicated coaches, passionate student-athletes, and an incredibly supportive community. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together,” Masencup said. “As I pass the baton, I do so with full confidence in Mr. Garner’s leadership and vision. I know he will continue to build on our proud legacy and lead the Hilltoppers into an exciting new chapter.”
Garner will begin at E. C. Glass this summer. He is committed to partnering with students, families, coaches, and community members to champion student achievement and development on the field and in the classroom.
"I'm honored and beyond excited to step in as the Athletic Director at E. C. Glass, a school with a proud tradition of athletic excellence. The student-athletes, coaches, and community have built something special at this place, and I can't wait to jump in and keep pushing our programs to new heights,” Garner said.
