Press release:
Mirroring the overwhelmingly common model for track & field programs in the Power 5 conferences, the Gopher Men’s and Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country programs will be operationally combined under a single coaching and support staff
MINNEAPOLIS – Gopher Athletics today announced that it will combine its Men’s and Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country programs under a single coaching and support staff. The change, which brings Minnesota’s organizational structure in line with a staggering majority of Power 5 conference programs, is effective immediately.
“As we looked at ways we could more effectively support our track & field and cross country programs and the student-athletes that compete for those teams, we realized our current structure of having the two programs operate separately was outdated and inefficient,” said Athletics Director Mark Coyle. “This combined operational structure will bring us in line with our peers, help us better allocate resources in support of our student-athletes, and create a stronger connection throughout all aspects of the program to help us provide an outstanding student-athlete experience.”
Matt Bingle, who has served as the director of women’s track & field and cross country for the past eight years and has led the women’s track & field program for the last 11, will oversee the combined program going forward. Steve Plasencia, who has been the director of men’s track & field and cross country since 2008, will stay on staff to oversee men’s cross country and distance runners for the track & field program.
“Gopher Track & Field has a distinguished history and I’ve been honored to be part of that. Today is the beginning of our latest chapter,” said Bingle. “This is an exciting time to be part of our program – as a coach, as a student-athlete, as an alum or as a fan. I’m looking forward to everything our men and women will achieve together as part of our combined program and helping them accomplish their goals along the way.”
Prior to today’s announcement, Minnesota was one of just a scant few Power 5 conference schools that operated its men’s and women’s programs separately. This combined operational structure creates opportunities to use resources more effectively. The teams will compete together and chase championships together under the leadership of a single coaching staff. This new structure will ultimately help the athletics department invest more resources into the experience of its track & field and cross country student-athletes, a benefit most Power 5 conference programs already enjoy through their combined programs.
This moves comes at a time when Gopher Track & Field and Cross Country is preparing to move into a new era. The state-of-the-art University of Minnesota Track & Field Stadium is scheduled to open this coming fall. In addition, the University’s Field House, which the Gophers use for indoor competition, will undergo a significant renovation in the coming year to modernize both the interior and exterior of the facility. The programs will begin their next chapter together as the women come off a season in which they swept the Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Championships for the first time in program history and Kaitlyn Long returns for her final season of outdoor eligibility after wrapping her up indoor career by winning the weight throw national title, while the men welcome back their first distance-event national champion in nearly 50 years when Obsa Ali returns to defend his NCAA crown in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Mirroring the overwhelmingly common model for track & field programs in the Power 5 conferences, the Gopher Men’s and Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country programs will be operationally combined under a single coaching and support staff
MINNEAPOLIS – Gopher Athletics today announced that it will combine its Men’s and Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country programs under a single coaching and support staff. The change, which brings Minnesota’s organizational structure in line with a staggering majority of Power 5 conference programs, is effective immediately.
“As we looked at ways we could more effectively support our track & field and cross country programs and the student-athletes that compete for those teams, we realized our current structure of having the two programs operate separately was outdated and inefficient,” said Athletics Director Mark Coyle. “This combined operational structure will bring us in line with our peers, help us better allocate resources in support of our student-athletes, and create a stronger connection throughout all aspects of the program to help us provide an outstanding student-athlete experience.”
Matt Bingle, who has served as the director of women’s track & field and cross country for the past eight years and has led the women’s track & field program for the last 11, will oversee the combined program going forward. Steve Plasencia, who has been the director of men’s track & field and cross country since 2008, will stay on staff to oversee men’s cross country and distance runners for the track & field program.
“Gopher Track & Field has a distinguished history and I’ve been honored to be part of that. Today is the beginning of our latest chapter,” said Bingle. “This is an exciting time to be part of our program – as a coach, as a student-athlete, as an alum or as a fan. I’m looking forward to everything our men and women will achieve together as part of our combined program and helping them accomplish their goals along the way.”
Prior to today’s announcement, Minnesota was one of just a scant few Power 5 conference schools that operated its men’s and women’s programs separately. This combined operational structure creates opportunities to use resources more effectively. The teams will compete together and chase championships together under the leadership of a single coaching staff. This new structure will ultimately help the athletics department invest more resources into the experience of its track & field and cross country student-athletes, a benefit most Power 5 conference programs already enjoy through their combined programs.
This moves comes at a time when Gopher Track & Field and Cross Country is preparing to move into a new era. The state-of-the-art University of Minnesota Track & Field Stadium is scheduled to open this coming fall. In addition, the University’s Field House, which the Gophers use for indoor competition, will undergo a significant renovation in the coming year to modernize both the interior and exterior of the facility. The programs will begin their next chapter together as the women come off a season in which they swept the Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Championships for the first time in program history and Kaitlyn Long returns for her final season of outdoor eligibility after wrapping her up indoor career by winning the weight throw national title, while the men welcome back their first distance-event national champion in nearly 50 years when Obsa Ali returns to defend his NCAA crown in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
