Rich Ceronie

	Position: Asst. Coach - Sprints/Relays/Long Hurdles
	Experience: Third Year

04/23/2004

University of New Mexico Track & Field: A Tradition of Excellence

After 24 years as head cross country & track coach at Miami (Ohio) University where he was multiple time Mid American Conference Coach of the Year, and having earned NCAA Mid-East Coach of the year from the United States Cross Country & Track Coaches Association Rich Ceronie begins his third year on Joe Franklin's staff.

While at Miami University Ceronie produced 3 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifiers, 4 conference athletes of the year, over 60 conference champions, and 13 NCAA All Americans. He was the first Mid American Conference coach to have an athlete win an NCAA Championship and rank #1 in the world. His teams were consistently ranked among the best in the conference winning almost 70% of all competitions in that 24 year tenure.

While at Miami Ceronie was elected the NCAA Division I Track & Field Committee where he worked with Joe Franklin for several years. His four-year tenure on the committee culminated in him serving as chair of the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship and Outdoor Track & Field Championship. Currently he is the NCAA Mountain Region women's rep for cross country.

During 2011 Ceronie had two of his men athletes finish second & third in the MWC 400 hurdles with one qualifying on to the NCAA regional championship and the USA junior track championships. He also coached Marin Schweigert to a MWC placing in the high jump.

For the last two years, Ceronie served the City of Albuquerque as meet director for the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships. During 2012 he again will lead the city in hosting this prestigious meet. He also serves as meet director for all Lobo home track & field meets and during the last two years there has been record attendance. In 2011 Ceronie was honored by the City of Albuquerque as "Ambassador of the Year" for bringing increased revenue to the city. Over the course of the last two years Ceronie has been responsible for bringing over 3.5 million dollars in direct spending to the city.

Ceronie earned undergraduate degrees in health education and elementary education from Brockport State University (NY). He then went on to earn graduate degrees in elementary education (Geneseo State University (NY) and Sport Organization (Miami University) before completing his Ph.D. at Miami in Educational Leadership/Athletic Administration. Ceronie is married (Karen) and has two daughters, Katelin (22) and Lauren (20).

Coach Joe Franklin on Ceronie, "Rich and I have been friends for many years as my teams at Butler University often competed against Miami University. His organizational abilities will help our program and city as we continue to become a mecca of indoor track & field. His expertise as a former head coach and having coached every track & field event will help our program to have great flexibility as we go into the future."