TicketsMay 13, 2009
CINCINNATI - After leading the University of Cincinnati women's outdoor track and field team to a sixth-place finish at the BIG EAST Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships May 1-3, interim head coach Susan Seaton has had her interim title removed and has been named the head coach, Cincinnati Director of Athletics Mike Thomas announced today.
"Since turning over the reins of the women's program to Susan last summer she has done an impressive job with our team, both on the track and in the classroom," said Thomas. "She believes in our core CATAPULT philosophies and consistently teaches with those values in mind. We look forward to her continued leadership and the future success of the women's track and field program."
Seaton led the Bearcats to a sixth-place showing at the 2009 BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships, its best finish since joining the BIG EAST. Seaton also led the indoor track and field squad to a program-best seventh place showing at the BIG EAST Indoor Championships in February.
"I am thrilled that Mike Thomas and Robin Martin have faith in me to lead our coaches and athletes into a new era of success," Seaton said. "This last year has been a really good experience for our team recording program-best finishes at the BIG EAST Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Additionally, a record number 23 athletes qualified for the Outdoor BIG EAST Championships and six athletes qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships."
"We also had a great year academically with an expected 100-percent graduation rate, as well as a team GPA above 3.0. Our coaches and athletes will work very hard to advance the team's success and propel us to a Top 3 finish at the conference meet and onto the national stage."
Seaton has been part of the UC coaching staff for five seasons primarily coaching the men's and women's throws. During that span, Seaton has coached throwers Steve Kahle and Jo Young to conference titles in the shot put and hammer throw, respectively. Additionally, six school records have been broken under Seaton's tutelage and one athlete has moved on to the NCAA Nationals (Jo Young - 2005).
Prior to Cincinnati, Seaton served six years as an assistant coach at Wisconsin and three years as an assistant at Northern Arizona. As an assistant, Seaton mentored five all-Americans, 16 conference champions, and nine NCAA qualifiers.