The Omnibus

Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: Sports

Director of Athletics Brent Good welcomes Southwest Baptist University graduate Corey McElhaney to the University coaching staff. McElhaney will replace former Track-and-Field and Cross Country Head Coach Jeff Delong.

The wait for the new Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach is now over. Southwest Baptist President Dr. C. Pat Taylor and Athletic Director Brent Good announced Wednesday afternoon that Corey McElhaney will be taking over the reigns of the fast-rising programs.
"We're excited to have Corey join the SBU coaching staff," said Taylor. "He has been a vital part of SBU's progress. Our students and staff look forward to his proven leadership on our cross country and track & field teams."
McElhaney is a recent graduate of SBU. As an athlete at SBU, McElhaney was a 5-time All-MIAA athlete under former coach Jeff DeLong, and served as a volunteer assistant under DeLong for the past year.
McElhaney will be taking over a track program that is on the rise and a cross country program that placed second in the conference last year and was nationally ranked for most of the year.
"I am very excited to take the helm of this great program Jeff DeLong started," said McElhaney.
McElhaney will become the youngest coach in the MIAA at only 23 years old. However, McElhaney seems ready to prove those wrong who might think he is not ready to be a head coach.
"I am anxious to prove I'm worthy of being a head coach in the MIAA," said McElhaney.
There will be no time for the new coach to reflect on his newly gained status. After being hired Wednesday, McElhaney will take the team to Hays, Kan. for the MIAA Championships Friday. Once he is done with conference, McElhaney will be responsible for taking senior T. Jay Sanderson to nationals and making up for lost time on the recruiting trail.
With all of these responsibilities and expectations to live up to, many new coaches might be a nervous about their new job. McElhaney, however, sees it all as a great opportunity.
"I think it's a blessing to have this group of young individuals I will get to coach next year," said McElhaney.

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