THE FACTS Furman University was founded in 1826 and sits on 750 acres of land, including a beautiful 30 acre lake. The University sponsors 18 NCAA Division I athletic teams, nine men’s and nine women’s. There are also 16 club sports and 21 intramural activities in which students can participate. Furman has 42 majors of study, six concentrations and six pre-professional programs. Furman is one of a select group of colleges that qualify for a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious academic society. THE STUDENTS Furman has an enrollment of 2,620 under- graduates and 420 graduate students. The students at Furman represent 47 states and 27 foreign countries. More than 50 percent of students take part in internships, independent studies or research programs. GREENVILLE, S.C. Furman University is located in Greenville, S.C., a city of 400,000 people. In 2007, America’s Promise — The Alliance for Youth designated Greenville one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People. The city was recognized for its commitment to provide healthy, safe and caring environments for young people. Greenville has a professional baseball team, the Greenville Drive, that plays at West End Field in the downtown area. 2012-13 Furman Paladin Cross Country and Track & Field Table of Contents Furman University Paladin Cross Country/Track Staff Table of Contents Location Greenville, S.C. Head Coach Robert Gary This is Furman IFC Founded 1826 Alma Mater Ohio State, 1996 Quick Facts 1 President Rod Smolla Phone 614-557-0953 Media Information 1 Enrollment 2,600 Assistant Coach Rita Gary Head Coach Robert Gary 2 Affiliation NCAA Division I Alma Mater South Florida, 2001 Assistant Coaches/Support Staff 3-4 Conference Southern Phone 614-429-8477 Irwin Belk Complex for Track & Field 5 Colors Purple & White Assistant Coach Chris Neal 2011-12 in Review 6 Nickname Paladins Alma Mater Eastern Kentucky, 2003 2012-13 Rosters 7 Mascot Knight on white horse Phone 614-282-4010 Paladin Women Profiles 8-13 Athletics Director Dr. Gary Clark Assistant Coach Cory Leslie Paladin Women Records 14 Faculty Athletics Rep. Dr. Bill Pierce Alma Mater Ohio State, 2012 Women’s All-Time SoCon Results 15-17 Senior Women’s Admin. Elaine Baker Phone 419-656-7535 Paladin Women Honors 15-16 Dir. of Compliance/Acad. Dan Brinkman Assistant Coach Jeffrey See Paladin Women Academic Honor Roll 18 Dir. of Game Operations Chris Colvin Alma Mater Ohio State, 2012 Women’s All-Time Roster 19 Head Athletic Trainer Craig Clark Phone 513-320-4638 Paladin Men Profiles 20-25 CC/Track Ath. Trainer Heather Newman Director of Operations Scott Lucking Paladin Men Records 26 Alma Mater Northern Illinois, 1977 Paladin Men Honors 27 Sports Information Phone 850-687-5158 Men’s All-Time SoCon Results 27-30 CC/Track Contact Julie Paré Vol. Assistant Coach Cari Neal Paladin Men Academic Honor Roll 30 Email [email protected] Alma Mater Ball State, 2004 Men’s All-Time Roster 31-32 Cell 864.303-3200 Phone 765-215-8751 Furman Meets/Blue Shoes IBC Director Hunter Reid Address Timmons Arena Office 864.294.2061 3300 Poinsett Highway Associate SID Jordan Caskey Greenville, S.C. 29613 Office 864.294.3065 Fax 864.294.3061 Website www.furmanpaladins.com 2012-13 Furman Cross Country and Track & Field Media Guide The 2012-13 Furman University Cross Country and Track & Field Media Guide is a publication of the Furman Sports Information office. It was written, designed and ed- ited by Julie Paré, with assistance from Hunter Reid and Jordan Caskey. Photographic contributions have been made by SoCon Photos, Patrick Collard, Jeremy Fleming, and Richard Shiro. Covering the Furman Paladins Furman University welcomes the coverage of Paladin cross country and track & field. For more information, or to schedule coach or student-athlete interviews, please contact Julie Paré in the Furman Sports Information Department at 864.303.3200. The Furman Sports Information office is located in Timmons Arena. 2012-13 Cross Country and Track & Field • 1 2012-13 Furman Paladin Cross Country and Track & Field Head Coach Robert Gary Robert Gary place, and produced the fourth-most is in his first sea- NCAA Indoor Championship qualifi- son as Furman’s ers. His Ohio State team concluded the head track and NCAA Indoor Championships with the field/cross fourth-most All-Americans, including country coach. two relay teams comprised entirely of Gary, a native student-athletes from the state of Ohio of Chicago, Ill., that set Buckeye records to qualify for has spent the the meet. Gary also coached three sub-4 last six years as minute milers this indoors (Cory Leslie, the head men’s Daniel Huling, and See). track and field “My wife and I are extremely excited coach at Ohio State and has also served to work together with all of the support- as the school’s men’s cross country areas at Furman,” said Gary. “This coach for the past 16 years. During his program gives us with an opportunity time at the helm of the Buckeye track to focus toward the distance areas and and field program, he has guided his offers a more formalized post-collegiate teams to six top-three finishes at Big training group. We both feel like the Ten championship events, including setting -- the facilities, weather, availabil- runner-up performances at the 2009 ity of physiological testing -- along with cross country meet, plus the 2009 the great foundation already in place by outdoor and 2010 indoor meets. Under Gene Mullins and the rest of the cur- Gary’s tutelage, the Buckeyes have rent staff, will present a very rewarding Robert, Rita, & Percy Gary garnered 17 individual titles and seven challenge for our staff and a will prove relay crowns. to be a great place for Furman student- “As a two-time Olympian, assis- athletes to develop.” 3000m steeplechase, Gary concluded his tant coach for the U.S. national team, Gary’s involvement with USA Track own running career in 2005 after becom- and successful national-level college and Field has helped fashion his reputa- ing one of only five Ohio State track and coach, Robert Gary brings a wealth of tion as one of the nation’s elite coaches. field athletes to earn bids to two separate knowledge and national acclaim to the Last year he served as an assistant U.S. Olympic teams. He finished second Furman cross country and track and coach for Team USA at the IAAF World in the steeplechase at the U.S. Olympic field teams at a time when Furman is Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Trials in 1996, recording a career-beset making a larger commitment to this and as the head coach for the U.S. junior time of 8:19.46, then posted a third- program,” said Clark upon announc- team at the IAAF World Cross Country place finish at the 2004 Trials eight years ing Gary’s hiring. “We are excited to Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain. later. As a cross country athlete, Gary have both Robert and Rita Gary joining During the 2010 season, Gary was Team garnered 11 career appearances on the Furman University.” USA’s U-23 distance coach at the North U.S. cross country team and was chosen “Furman is committed to achieving America, Central America, and Caribbe- Track and Field News Cross Country both academic and athletic excellence, an Athletic Association (NACAC) meet Runner of the Year in 2004. and Robert Gary will be a wonderful in Toluca, Mexico. Prior to his time as head track and addition to our athletic program,” said Gary’s past proteges include Olinger, field coach at Ohio State, Gary served Furman President Rod Smolla. “He who won the prestigious Manchester nine years as an assistant coach with the has proven himself as a coach at the Road Race and turned in the top Ameri- Buckeye team. highest levels of competition, and he can finish and the third-best time ever A 1996 graduate of Ohio State, Gary will bring valuable expertise to a cross at the Falmouth Road Race, and See, completed an illustrious career as a country and track and field program who became Gary’s fourth mile cham- member of the Buckeye track and field that is poised to become one of the na- pion after winning the USATF indoor program, earning six All-American cita- tion’s best.” mile championship in 2011. In 2010, tions and winning the Big Ten champi- The Buckeyes reached the NCAA he coached former Miami University onship in the steeplechase in 1994. His cross country championships during track talent Huling, who won the 3000m time of 7:52.63 in the 3,000m still stands eight of Gary’s 16 years as head coach, steeplechase at the 2010 USA Outdoor as the Ohio State indoor record in the finishing as high as 11th-place in 2005. Track and Field Championships. Huling event. A three-time All-Big Ten selec- Gary’s teams have produced numer- was one of several track and field stars, tion, he helped the Buckeyes to three ous all-Big Ten honorees, two All-Great including Rob Myers (1500m), Olinger league championships and was inducted Lakes regional selections, and two All- (steeplechase), and See (1500m), who into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Americans (Brian Olinger and Jeff See). trained under Gary in preparation for Fame in 2009. Most recently, his 2011 squad placed the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. Gary and his wife, the former Rita 23rd at the national meet. Myers, Huling, and Olinger advanced to Arndt, who serves as an assistant coach Last indoor season, Gary led the the finals in their respective events at the in the Paladin track and field/cross Buckeyes to a fourth-place finish in trials.