Dover will soon add another state championship coach to its roster.

Kerri Lafferty is set to be hired as the school’s cross country and track and field coach.

Those coaching duties as well as her role as an eighth grade English teacher are expected to be approved Monday by the Dover Board of Education.

The move ends a successful stint in Kingfisher for Lafferty, who guided the KHS girls to the 2018 Class 4A cross country state championship.

“We are excited to have her join our team,” said Dover Superintendent Jay Wood, who said Lafferty will also serve as an instructional coach. “She’s not only an unbelievable teacher who will help our students academically, but she brings a ton of track and cross country knowledge and state champion experience to our athletic programs.”

Lafferty joined KPS in 2009 and has taught social studies, reading and English for the district.

She began coaching in 2014 when she was an assistant to Shiloh Kannady in cross country.

When Kannady stepped down as a full-time employ-ee two years later, Kannady and Lafferty switched roles.

Kannady has remained a part of the track and cross country programs since.

“We’ve worked so well together and she deserves a lot of credit for our successes,” Lafferty said. “Shiloh has been there every step of the way and I’m so appreciative of what she’s meant to our teams and to me.”

Lafferty began to help with track and field in 2018 and became the girls head coach in 2019.

She was named the 201819 Oklahoma girls cross country coach of the year by the National Federation of High Schools Coaches Association.

Her girls cross country teams were fixtures at state, placing in the top 10 every year.

The Lady Jackets took third in 2020 and were ranked No. 1 for a good portion in 2023 before placing fifth.

Lafferty’s track and field teams have had several successes, including multiple individual state champions and numerous medalists.

After the 2023 cross country season, Lafferty expressed her desire to step away from coaching cross country, but was still contemplating remaining a part of the track and field program.

In May, the Kingfisher Board of Education approved the hiring of Stefan Seifried to coach the cross country and track teams.

Lafferty was still deciding her coaching future with the track program when the opportunity at Dover arose.

“It wasn’t an easy decision because I love my kids at Kingfisher and we’ve had some really great groups here,” Lafferty said. “Whether it was watching our girls win that state championship or seeing someone set a PR at a track meet, it all meant so much to me and I’ll cherish those memories.

“But the opportunity at Dover is a chance to refresh in the classroom as well as on the track and cross country course. It came along at the right time and I look forward to working with the kids and staff in Dover.”