Turner Added To Track Staff
7/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
July 26, 2007
Houston, Texas - University of Houston head track and field coach Leroy Burrell today announced the hiring of Ryan Turner as the program's new assistant track and field coach. Turner also will serve as the head cross-country coach for both the men's and women's programs.
"We are really excited about adding Ryan to our staff," said Burrell, the 2007 Conference USA Men's Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. "He was very successful in building the program at Cowley College, and he made solid recruiting connections in the Midwest as well as internationally.
"In order for us to continue developing this track program into one of the nation's best, we have to get some international kids to come to UH. He has proven that he can do that."
Turner comes to the storied UH track and field program after spending almost three years as the assistant cross country/track and field coach at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kan. In 2006, he led the men's harriers to the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) championship of the Eastern Division, later placing fifth at the National Junior College Athletic Association national meet.
In 2004, Turner guided the women's cross-country team to a fourth-place finish at the NJCAA National Cross Country meet. Overall, Turner coached 12 individuals that garnered 18 All-America honors, in addition to one All-America relay team, one national champion, eight individual regional champions and three regional champion relay teams. Also, 12 individuals and three relay teams captured conference accolades, and he produced 39 national meet qualifiers.
"I am excited about the opportunity," commented Turner, who was named the 2007 NJCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field National Assistant Coach of the Year. "(This is) a great team and a great coaching staff. We're just looking forward to continuing the tradition, going after conference championships and competing at the national level."
Prior to his stint at Cowley County CC, Turner spent two seasons coaching at his alma mater, Southwestern College, located in Winfield, Kan. Not only did Turner serve as an assistant track and field/cross country coach, but he also worked as a Residence Hall Director.
Turner holds a bachelors degree in physical education, a master's degree in education and is USATF Level II certified in the endurance and sprints/hurdles/relays events. Turner is a certified USATF Level I instructor and was the school director for the USATF Level I school at Cowley College in June of 2006 and Hutchinson Community College in June of 2007.
As an athlete, Turner was a four-time national meet qualifier and KCAC Conference runner-up in the 1500m run while attending Southwestern College. Turner has run personal best times of 26:09 (8K-Kenosh, Wis.), 4:01.00 (1500m) and 1:55.23 (800m).
He is married to Cassie, a third grade teacher, and the couple has a 14-month-old daughter, Lauryn Marie.