Corey McElhaney
Men's Cross Country / Track & Field Coach
Jane and Ken Meyer Wellness Center
Bolivar, MO 65613
Corey McElhaney is in his third season as the head cross country and track coach for the men and women’s programs. McElhaney coaches the men and women’s cross country team during the fall and coaches the men and women’s distance/middle distance runners during the winter and spring.
During the 2008 cross country season, McElhaney led the SBU men’s team to an MIAA Championship. This win was the first cross country title in school history and to add to the successful weekend, McElhaney was also named the 2008 MIAA Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. Success continued into the indoor and outdoor seasons, as SBU track and field athletes delivered 16 All-MIAA performances and six All-American honors.
During the indoor campaign, the men's distance medley relay was national runner-up, just missing a national title by three-tenths of a second. Michael Pierce took sixth in the mile and Sarah Bowling was seventh in the triple jump. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Pierce (1500m) and Bowling (triple jump) repeated their indoor success with eighth place finishes. They were joined by Shawn Etzenhouser, who took sixth in the 800 meters. Various squad members also picked up MIAA Athlete of the Week awards and several earned USTFCCCA and CoSIDA academic All-American recognition. Both the men's and women's track and field squads were named USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams.
His first year at SBU also proved successful with fourteen school records and six national qualifying times during the 2007-2008 indoor and outdoor seasons. McElhaney coached the first SBU cross country All-American during the 2007 cross country season. Michael Pierce finished 27th at the 2007 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships.
McElhaney also took two athletes to the NCAA Indoor National Championships during his first year at SBU. Michael Pierce finished fifth at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships held at Minnesota State University, which was good enough to earn All-American status for the second time in one year. His time of 4:07 was ranked fifth in NCAA Division II during the 2008 indoor season. Shawn Etzenhouser finished ninth at the Indoor Championships, which was one spot away from All-American status.
"It has been a life long dream to coach at an institution where my faith plays a vital role in my coaching," said McElhaney at the time of his hiring. "My goal for this program is to make an impact on the conference and national scene with not only our running, jumping, and throwing but also with our character while in competition. I have a true passion for running and I enjoy coaching my athletes in not only running but in life."
McElhaney is a native of Elgin, Okla., where he graduated from Elgin High School. McElhaney then attended Coffeyville Community College, where he was a two-time All-American in the indoor 1000 meters and the outdoor 800 meters. McElhaney transferred to SBU and was a key member of the recruiting class that started the success of the cross country and track program. He was a five-time All-MIAA athlete at SBU.
When McElhaney was hired, SBU President C. Pat Taylor commented that he was "excited to have Corey join the SBU coaching staff. 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 and field teams."
McElhaney graduated in December 2006 with a degree in physical education and is currently working on his masters of education. McElhaney exchanged wedding vows with former SBU women's track standout Christine Showler in July of 2006. They currently reside in Bolivar.
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