 |  Kathleen Raske |
Aug. 11, 2015 By Tom Weber
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University announced today that Saluki Hall of Fame track star Kathleen Raske will return to her alma mater as the school's new Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, replacing fellow Hall of Famer Connie Price-Smith, who accepted a position at Ole Miss two weeks ago. Raske, a 1990 graduate of SIU, recently completed her 12th season as the Director of Track & Field/Cross Country programs at Sacramento State. She was named Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year 16 times, produced 15 NCAA All-Americans, eight USATF Junior All-Americans, 128 NCAA National Championship participants, 191 conference champions, and 483 all-Big Sky performers during her tenure. The Hornets' men's and women's teams combined to win 17 Big Sky team championships under Raske and finished in second place eight times. Raske is the only woman to coach a Division I men's team to five conference championship titles in NCAA history in any sport. Prior to her arrival in 2004, neither program had finished better than fourth as a team at a conference championship meet. "To hire a head coach of Kathleen's stature is a great accomplishment for Saluki Athletics ," said Saluki Director of Athletics Tommy Bell. "We're bringing home a Hall of Fame athlete and one of the most respected coaches in the business. In essence, we've replaced one Saluki legend -- Connie Price Smith -- with another Saluki legend in Kathleen Raske. Our track program remains in good hands." An All-American in the 100-meter hurdles at Southern, Raske set conference records in the 100-meter hurdles, 200-meter and 55-meter hurdles. She also competed in five U.S. National Championships, including the 1992 Olympic Trials in the 100-meter hurdles. Raske was named the Most Valuable Player of the Decade by the Gateway Conference, and was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. "I have always been a proud Saluki and had a wonderful student-athlete experience," Raske said. "I started my coaching career 25 years ago at SIU and it has now come full circle. I am grateful to President (Randy) Dunn and Athletic Director Tommy Bell for their efforts to provide me this opportunity to return home once again. I will give my very best to not only continue, but to build upon the great tradition of Saluki track & field/cross country. My husband and I are excited to put on the Maroon and White, arrive in Carbondale, meet the team, and bring home some championships."
A respected teacher, Raske has extensive experience coaching at the national level. In 2009, she was named the head coach for Team USA at the World University Games. She was also the head women's coach for Team USA at its quadrangular meet against Great Britain, China and Russia in 2006, and at the NACAC Games in 2012. Raske serves on the executive committee of the Division I USTFCCCA and is vice chair for the Coaches Advisory Committee for USATF. In addition to her committee responsibilities, Raske has been a speaker on the topic of hurdling and sprinting at coaching clinics throughout the United States and internationally. Raske is also an active member of Athletes in Action and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In the summer of 2002, she led an AIA team to Thailand and Laos. She served as the faculty advisor for the FCA huddle at Sacramento State. Her coaching career began at SIU in 1990, when she mentored the team's sprinters, hurdlers, and relay teams. From 1992-1997, she served as an assistant coach at Miami University, overseeing the men and women in sprints and hurdles. Six of her athletes won Mid-American Conference titles and three advanced to the NCAA Championships, including two-time All-American hurdler Becca Williams, who was ranked 20th in the world. From 1997-2003, Raske was the head coach of the women's track & field and cross country programs at Central Michigan. While at CMU, Raske coached 19 conference champions, 49 all-league recipients, 20 NCAA championship meet qualifiers, three All-Americans and 53 school records were established. In 2002, she led CMU to its first Mid-American Conference championship. For her efforts, she was named MAC Coach of the Year, Great Lakes NCAA Regional Coach of the Year and Central Collegiate Coach of the Year. Raske graduated from SIU with a double major in education and zoology. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with the NCSA and has earned Level I, II and Level III USA Track and Field coaching education certification. She was also a graduate of in the inaugural IAAF Level 5 master's of coaching for sprints and hurdles certification program.
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University announced today that Saluki Hall of Fame track star Kathleen Raske will return to her alma mater as the school's new Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, replacing fellow Hall of Famer Connie Price-Smith, who accepted a position at Ole Miss two weeks ago. Raske, a 1990 graduate of SIU, recently completed her 12th season as the Director of Track & Field/Cross Country programs at Sacramento State. She was named Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year 16 times, produced 15 NCAA All-Americans, eight USATF Junior All-Americans, 128 NCAA National Championship participants, 191 conference champions, and 483 all-Big Sky performers during her tenure. The Hornets' men's and women's teams combined to win 17 Big Sky team championships under Raske and finished in second place eight times. Raske is the only woman to coach a Division I men's team to five conference championship titles in NCAA history in any sport. Prior to her arrival in 2004, neither program had finished better than fourth as a team at a conference championship meet. "To hire a head coach of Kathleen's stature is a great accomplishment for Saluki Athletics ," said Saluki Director of Athletics Tommy Bell. "We're bringing home a Hall of Fame athlete and one of the most respected coaches in the business. In essence, we've replaced one Saluki legend -- Connie Price Smith -- with another Saluki legend in Kathleen Raske. Our track program remains in good hands." An All-American in the 100-meter hurdles at Southern, Raske set conference records in the 100-meter hurdles, 200-meter and 55-meter hurdles. She also competed in five U.S. National Championships, including the 1992 Olympic Trials in the 100-meter hurdles. Raske was named the Most Valuable Player of the Decade by the Gateway Conference, and was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. "I have always been a proud Saluki and had a wonderful student-athlete experience," Raske said. "I started my coaching career 25 years ago at SIU and it has now come full circle. I am grateful to President (Randy) Dunn and Athletic Director Tommy Bell for their efforts to provide me this opportunity to return home once again. I will give my very best to not only continue, but to build upon the great tradition of Saluki track & field/cross country. My husband and I are excited to put on the Maroon and White, arrive in Carbondale, meet the team, and bring home some championships."
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A respected teacher, Raske has extensive experience coaching at the national level. In 2009, she was named the head coach for Team USA at the World University Games. She was also the head women's coach for Team USA at its quadrangular meet against Great Britain, China and Russia in 2006, and at the NACAC Games in 2012. Raske serves on the executive committee of the Division I USTFCCCA and is vice chair for the Coaches Advisory Committee for USATF. In addition to her committee responsibilities, Raske has been a speaker on the topic of hurdling and sprinting at coaching clinics throughout the United States and internationally. Raske is also an active member of Athletes in Action and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In the summer of 2002, she led an AIA team to Thailand and Laos. She served as the faculty advisor for the FCA huddle at Sacramento State. Her coaching career began at SIU in 1990, when she mentored the team's sprinters, hurdlers, and relay teams. From 1992-1997, she served as an assistant coach at Miami University, overseeing the men and women in sprints and hurdles. Six of her athletes won Mid-American Conference titles and three advanced to the NCAA Championships, including two-time All-American hurdler Becca Williams, who was ranked 20th in the world. From 1997-2003, Raske was the head coach of the women's track & field and cross country programs at Central Michigan. While at CMU, Raske coached 19 conference champions, 49 all-league recipients, 20 NCAA championship meet qualifiers, three All-Americans and 53 school records were established. In 2002, she led CMU to its first Mid-American Conference championship. For her efforts, she was named MAC Coach of the Year, Great Lakes NCAA Regional Coach of the Year and Central Collegiate Coach of the Year. Raske graduated from SIU with a double major in education and zoology. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with the NCSA and has earned Level I, II and Level III USA Track and Field coaching education certification. She was also a graduate of in the inaugural IAAF Level 5 master's of coaching for sprints and hurdles certification program.
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