Karen Godlock will return to the Winston-Salem State University in her second season as an assistant coach in the Rams and Lady Rams' track & field and cross country teams. Godlock has a wealth of experience as an educator and a coach with a nine-year career in the field. During this time she has shared her love for running through implementing several cross country and track programs. Prior to coming to WSSU, Godlock served as both a high school athletic director and a cross Country/track & field coach.

"Coach Godlock brings a wealth of knowledge in the Middle-Distance/Distance areas to help move our track and field/cross country programs to the next level," WSSU track & field/cross country head coach Halcyon Blake said.

She made an immediate impact on the WSSU distance program with a number of school records set during the 2008 Cross Country season as well as the 2009 Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field seasons.

Godlock is a native of North Carolina, born and raised in Polk County; were she attended Polk County High School. She held and still holds both school and state records in the 800m, one mile and the two mile. Godlock was ranked nationally in both cross country and indoor/outdoor track. She won the Millrose Mile at Madison Square Gardens in New York City. She was also the first North Carolina High School cross country runner to win three consecutive high school cross country state championships. During her high school career, Godlock won 17 total championships including nine outdoor, five indoor and three cross country championships. She also won consecutively state championships in the outdoor 800m, 1600m, and 3200m run as well as consecutive indoor titles in the 1000-yd dash, the one-mile, and two-miles. She was a Footlocker Regional Champion and Footlocker National finalist finishing 7th during her high school years.

Godlock is a 1997 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education in 1997. During her collegiate career, she was a member of Tarheels' cross country/track & field program. While at UNC, Godlock won several ACC Championships in cross country and indoor/outdoor track & field. She was the first female runner in ACC history to win three consecutive ACC Cross Country Championships and was an ACC Champion in the indoor and outdoor 1500m run. In each season of her collegiate career, Godlock received All-ACC Honors, All-Conference and All-American honors in both cross country and track & field each year. She was a part of UNC's ACC Cross Country Championship team, and Indoor/Outdoor Championship team titles. She was also a part of the NCAA Distance Medley Relay Championship team. While at UNC, Godlock also earned a spot on the United States of America's Junior National team.

Following her collegiate career Godlock earned a sponsorship from the New Balance shoe company.