CHAMPAIGN, IL – Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced today that the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will reorganize the leadership structure of the men's and women's track and field and cross country programs in the summer of 2017. Upon completion of the 2017 outdoor track and field season, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field and men's and women's cross country will be led by a single coaching staff. Under the consolidated structure, current men's coach Mike Turk will be head coach and will lead both programs, along with five full-time assistant coaches.
"To date, Illinois has been one of only four schools in the Big Ten that has not combined its men's and women's track and field and cross country programs," Whitman said. "Not unlike football, track and field has many specializations, and adopting a consolidated coaching structure allows us to provide full-time, specialized leadership to more of our event groups than if we continued to operate two separate programs. Combining the programs under a unified coaching staff best positions six sports and nearly 25 percent of our student-athletes for long-term success."
Turk is in his sixth season at the helm of the Fighting Illini, and 11th overall. Since taking over as head coach in 2010, he has led the Illini back to the top of the Big Ten, highlighted by four Big Ten runner-up finishes and the 2015 Outdoor Big Ten Championship. Overall, Turk has accumulated more than 30 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, including 26 years in NCAA Division I. Since 2008, Turk has coached current American record holder Gia Lewis-Smallwood in the women's discus. She is a three-time USA champion, three-time World Championships team member and a 2012 Olympian.
"I am grateful to Mike Turk for agreeing to lead this combined effort," Whitman continued. "He has done a tremendous job with our men's program, while also coaching some of the world's top women's throwers. I have great confidence in Mike's leadership and his commitment to building a consolidated program focused on quality people and championship competition."
The trend of combining track and field and cross country programs is not limited to the Big Ten. Nationally, 20 of the top 25 women's teams and 23 of the top 25 men's teams in the final 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship rankings operated combined programs.
"Josh Whitman has an exciting vision for the direction of Illinois athletics, including both the women's and men's cross country/track & field programs, and I am honored that he trusts in me to guide both programs," Turk said. "I believe this move significantly increases the operating efficiency of both programs. It will provide the athletes with more specialized coaching and allow us to recruit on a much broader and strategic scale.
"As with the men's program, the women's program here at Illinois has a tremendous tradition of excellence, world-renowned coaches and iconic athletes, who have left a legacy both nationally and in the Olympics," Turk continued. "We will continue to target goals that put us in the upper echelons of both the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA. I am looking forward to leading the women's program and working to build a championship culture that provides an enriching experience. We will run a student-athlete centered program that mentors excellence, provides opportunities for high-level achievement and keeps the best interests and well-being of the student-athlete as the top priority."
Under the new structure, five assistant coaches will work with Turk. Following the consolidation next summer, current assistant coaches Adrian Wheatley, Randy Gillon, and Jake Stewart will continue with the new staff. The two remaining vacancies will be filled in the coming months.
