OSU Track and Field Updates Staff

OSU Track and Field Updates Staff Smith named director of track and cross country, Yosten joins OSU staff



Brionne Yosten

July 30, 2009


STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State announced changes to its track and field staff today. Dave Smith, who coached the Cowboys to their first-ever Big 12 cross country championship in 2008 and mentored German Fernandez to an individual NCAA title in the outdoor 1,500 meters, was promoted to director of track and cross country and Brionne Yosten, who coached last season at Western Michigan, joined the program to work primarily with the Cowgirl cross country and distance runners.

OSU assistant coaches John Baumann, Zivile Pukstiene, Bobby Lockhart and Sean McCabe all remain on staff.

Smith has served as men's cross country head coach at Oklahoma State for the last three years and just completed his first season as head men's track and field coach. He has been recognized as the Midwest Region Cross Country Coach of the Year in each of his three seasons by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and has led the Cowboys to three straight cross country regional titles. Additionally, he led OSU to its highest finish at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships since 1985 when the Cowboys placed 25th at the 2009 national meet.

In his new role, Smith will continue to serve as head coach of the men's track and field and cross country teams, but he now takes on the added responsibility of overseeing the Cowgirl program as well.

A familiar name to those who follow Big 12 running, Yosten spent last year coaching at Western Michigan, but has Big 12 roots, as she was a 12-time all-conference performer and three-time NCAA Championships qualifier during her athletic career at Texas Tech. A member of the distance medley relay team that captured the Big 12 championship, Yosten is also the Red Raiders school record holder in the 1,000 meter run.





"We're excited to have Brionne with us," Smith said. "I have known her for a long time and have seen her develop from her days as a student-athlete to being a coach. She has pursued coaching with a lot of passion and energy and she did a great job at Western Michigan. We have worked at camps together and I've seen how well high school athletes respond to her. She brings a lot to our program."

After receiving her bachelor's degree in mathematics and statistics with a minor in chemical engineering from Texas Tech in 2005, Yosten went on to continue her education in graduate school at the University of Wisconsin. With one year of athletic eligibility remaining, she competed her last outdoor track season as a Badger and ran the 1,500 meters at the 2006 NCAA Championships. She stayed on to volunteer with the Wisconsin staff for two years, where her duties consisted of assisting with the distance groups, scheduling and administrative help. Her first full-time coaching opportunity came at Western Michigan in 2008, where Yosten coached the Bronco distance runners for one season before coming to Oklahoma State.

"I'm excited to be back in the Big 12 and at Oklahoma State," Yosten said. "We have a good opportunity on the women's side to enjoy the same kind of success that the OSU men have had. I'm excited to work with Dave Smith. I've known him for a long time and I think we can build a national caliber women's program at OSU."

Courtesy OSU