 "Photo: COURTESY OF WUSTL PHOTO SERVICES")
Washington University Athletic Director John Schael named Jeff Stiles the interim head coach of track and field on Monday.
Since former Head Coach Paul Thornton resigned to become an assistant men’s track and field coach at the University of Minnesota in late August, the University decided to find an in-house replacement since there was, “not enough time to conduct a search that would be satisfying,” Schael said.
“We’ll make a determination most likely in April,” on the permanence of the current coaching situation, Schael added.
Stiles has been the Head Coach of the cross country team and the assistant coach for track and field for the past eight seasons and has led cross country to a top-five finish in five of the last six NCAA Championship meets. The women’s team is currently ranked 18th in Division III.
Schael also announced that Lane Lohr will become the full-time track and field assistant coach after spending the past two seasons as a part-time pole vault coach at Washington University. At the University of Illinois, Lohr was a three-time NCAA runner-up in the pole vault, a five-time All-American and winner of four individual Big Ten championships. As head coach of the Lindenwood University track and field team from 2004-2006, Lohr won a pair of NAIA national titles with the men’s team.
“I think that Coach Stiles being head coach is really logical. He’s been here. We’re very used to having him around and answering to him. It’s going to be a very smooth transition; it has so far. I think his expertise coupled with Coach Lane’s expertise is a really good combination, and we’re all really excited about it,” senior Aubrey Edwards, a captain of last year’s team, said.
“We’re going to reevaluate the whole track and field coaching staff at the end of the year, and just we’ll have to see what ways we can make it the best track and field coaching situation possible,” Stiles said. “John Schael’s goal is simply to make track and field the best sport at Washington University that it can be.”
Stiles mentioned that while he carries the title of head coach, he and Lohr really view their jobs as a partnership. Currently, Stiles is coaching the longer events and the steeplechase while Lohr is focusing on sprints and the field events.
The track and field team has already begun practice but will not begin intercollegiate competition until January 16 at the Rose-Hulman Double Dual Meet in Terre Haute, Indiana.
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