Ray Stanfield Named Houston Cross Country Head Coach
8/17/2021 12:24:00 PM | Cross Country
Stanfield brings extensive coaching record to Cougars
HOUSTON – Ray Stanfield has joined the University of Houston Cross Country program as its head coach and will work with Head Coach Leroy Burrell as an assistant coach for the Cougars' Track & Field program.
"We are excited to welcome Ray Stanfield as the University of Houston's head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach," Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academics & Compliance Lauren Dubois said. "Ray has extensive experience in collegiate coaching and as a head coach, which will be instrumental in the success of our distance programs. Ray's connections to Houston and to our coaching staff will ensure quick success. We are proud to welcome Ray and his family to the Cougar family."
Stanfield returns to the collegiate ranks after spending the last few years coaching triathletes. Over the past three decades, he has earned five conference Coach of the Year honors.
He served as the Head Track & Field and Cross Country coach at the UAB from 2002-09, guiding the Blazers to national prominence. Under the tutelage of Stanfield, UAB had 34 regional qualifiers and six NCAA Championships qualifiers. The Blazers posted consistently high finishes at the C-USA Championships, including their first conference title in 2006.
In 2005, Stanfield guided the Blazers to a third-place finish at the conference indoor meet for the program's highest finish since 1996.
Following his time in Birmingham, Stanfield returned to Texas where he served as the Track & Field and Cross Country head coach at Central High School in Pollok, Texas.
He returned to the collegiate stage in 2014 as the Track & Field and Cross Country head coach at West Alabama, leading the Tigers until August 2016. In his first year, he led the Tiger men to their first cross country conference title in program history.
The following year, the UWA women won their first conference title in program history. In his time at UWA, the Men's and Women's teams combined for five Top-3 finishes.
Stanfield has also enjoyed coaching stints at Rice, McNeese and Samford.
Stanfield is a native Houstonian and graduate of Hardin-Simmons University. He lives in Houston with his wife, Patricia, and has a daughter, Tori, and a son, Tyler, who was a member of Houston's 2006 Conference USA Cross Country championship team.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS
Fans can keep up with the latest in Houston Athletics by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Fans also can follow the Track & Field team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
SUPPORTING HOUSTON TRACK & FIELD AND CROSS COUNTRY
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track & Field and Cross Country.
Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the UH Track & Field and Cross Country programs for needs beyond their operating budgets. Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the Head Coach.
To join the Podium Club or for more information, click here.
"We are excited to welcome Ray Stanfield as the University of Houston's head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach," Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academics & Compliance Lauren Dubois said. "Ray has extensive experience in collegiate coaching and as a head coach, which will be instrumental in the success of our distance programs. Ray's connections to Houston and to our coaching staff will ensure quick success. We are proud to welcome Ray and his family to the Cougar family."
Stanfield returns to the collegiate ranks after spending the last few years coaching triathletes. Over the past three decades, he has earned five conference Coach of the Year honors.
He served as the Head Track & Field and Cross Country coach at the UAB from 2002-09, guiding the Blazers to national prominence. Under the tutelage of Stanfield, UAB had 34 regional qualifiers and six NCAA Championships qualifiers. The Blazers posted consistently high finishes at the C-USA Championships, including their first conference title in 2006.
In 2005, Stanfield guided the Blazers to a third-place finish at the conference indoor meet for the program's highest finish since 1996.
Following his time in Birmingham, Stanfield returned to Texas where he served as the Track & Field and Cross Country head coach at Central High School in Pollok, Texas.
He returned to the collegiate stage in 2014 as the Track & Field and Cross Country head coach at West Alabama, leading the Tigers until August 2016. In his first year, he led the Tiger men to their first cross country conference title in program history.
The following year, the UWA women won their first conference title in program history. In his time at UWA, the Men's and Women's teams combined for five Top-3 finishes.
Stanfield has also enjoyed coaching stints at Rice, McNeese and Samford.
Stanfield is a native Houstonian and graduate of Hardin-Simmons University. He lives in Houston with his wife, Patricia, and has a daughter, Tori, and a son, Tyler, who was a member of Houston's 2006 Conference USA Cross Country championship team.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS
Fans can keep up with the latest in Houston Athletics by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Fans also can follow the Track & Field team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
SUPPORTING HOUSTON TRACK & FIELD AND CROSS COUNTRY
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track & Field and Cross Country.
Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the UH Track & Field and Cross Country programs for needs beyond their operating budgets. Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the Head Coach.
To join the Podium Club or for more information, click here.
– UHCougars.com –
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