University of Delaware Athletics
Waite Elevated To Cross Country Head Coach Position
8/17/2018 7:43:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
NEWARK, Del. – A key member of the University of Delaware's distance success over the past two seasons has been given the reins of the cross country program.
Ryan Waite, who has been an assistant coach for the track & field and cross country programs for the past two seasons, has been elevated to Delaware's cross country head coach and will remain an assistant for the track & field program for long-time head coach Wendy McFarlane-Smith.
"We're excited to announce Coach Waite's promotion to the head coach of our cross country program. Coach Waite has done a remarkable job in the past two years, coaching our student-athletes to personal bests, school records and NCAA appearances," McFarlane-Smith said. "This promotion is well deserved and we have no doubt that Coach Waite will continue to advance our cross country and distance student-athletes to the next level. We look forward to working with him in this new capacity for the betterment of our cross country and track and field programs."
In two years working with the distance group, Waite has seen major strides, including a top-four performance in last year's CAA Championship, the highest finish by the Blue Hens in five years.
Senior Liz McGroarty flourished under Waite's tutelage, earning spots at the NCAA East Prelims each of the past two spring seasons and earning a top-five finish at last year's CAA Cross Country Championships, which was the highest individual finish by a Delaware runner in over a decade.
"This is a great step in the development and growth of our track and field and cross country programs," Associate AD for Student Services and Sport Administration Bob Lopez said. "Ryan has done an exceptional job in working with our student-athletes both athletically and academically. We appreciate Coach McFarlane-Smith's work in not only developing our student-athletes, but her work on building and developing her coaches and staff."
Waite came to Delaware in October of 2016 after spending three seasons as an assistant at his alma mater BYU. He was a part of the staff when the Cougars won the 2013 West Coast Conference championship and finished fourth at the NCAA Championships.
"I'm honored to be given the opportunity to lead this group of young women. This is a special place with special people and I'm incredibly proud to be a Blue Hen," Waite said. "I'd like to thank Wendy, Bob and Chrissi for their trust in me and especially my wife for her constant support."
A former student-athlete himself, Waite was a five-time All-American and three-time conference champion at BYU, where he earned his degree in communications in 2014.
Waite and his wife, Ashlynn, are the proud parents of daughter, Bria, and sons, Grant and Jackson.
Ryan Waite, who has been an assistant coach for the track & field and cross country programs for the past two seasons, has been elevated to Delaware's cross country head coach and will remain an assistant for the track & field program for long-time head coach Wendy McFarlane-Smith.
"We're excited to announce Coach Waite's promotion to the head coach of our cross country program. Coach Waite has done a remarkable job in the past two years, coaching our student-athletes to personal bests, school records and NCAA appearances," McFarlane-Smith said. "This promotion is well deserved and we have no doubt that Coach Waite will continue to advance our cross country and distance student-athletes to the next level. We look forward to working with him in this new capacity for the betterment of our cross country and track and field programs."
In two years working with the distance group, Waite has seen major strides, including a top-four performance in last year's CAA Championship, the highest finish by the Blue Hens in five years.
Senior Liz McGroarty flourished under Waite's tutelage, earning spots at the NCAA East Prelims each of the past two spring seasons and earning a top-five finish at last year's CAA Cross Country Championships, which was the highest individual finish by a Delaware runner in over a decade.
"This is a great step in the development and growth of our track and field and cross country programs," Associate AD for Student Services and Sport Administration Bob Lopez said. "Ryan has done an exceptional job in working with our student-athletes both athletically and academically. We appreciate Coach McFarlane-Smith's work in not only developing our student-athletes, but her work on building and developing her coaches and staff."
Waite came to Delaware in October of 2016 after spending three seasons as an assistant at his alma mater BYU. He was a part of the staff when the Cougars won the 2013 West Coast Conference championship and finished fourth at the NCAA Championships.
"I'm honored to be given the opportunity to lead this group of young women. This is a special place with special people and I'm incredibly proud to be a Blue Hen," Waite said. "I'd like to thank Wendy, Bob and Chrissi for their trust in me and especially my wife for her constant support."
A former student-athlete himself, Waite was a five-time All-American and three-time conference champion at BYU, where he earned his degree in communications in 2014.
Waite and his wife, Ashlynn, are the proud parents of daughter, Bria, and sons, Grant and Jackson.
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