Wes Kittley is the current

head coach A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manager", as in assoc ...

of the

Texas Tech Red Raiders track and field The Texas Tech Red Raiders track and field program represents Texas Tech University in the sport of track and field. The program includes separate men's and women's teams, both of which compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic A ...

team. He has produced several national champions and Olympians in

Sally Kipyego Sally Jepkosgei Kipyego (born 19 December 1985) is a Kenyan-born American long- and middle-distance runner. She was the silver medalist in the 10,000 metres at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics and the silver medalist in the same race ...

and Kennedy Kithuka.

Career

Abilene Christian, 1983-1999

Kittley was the women's track and field head coach at

Abilene Christian University Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a Private university, private Churches of Christ, Christian university in Abilene, Texas. It was founded in 1906 as ''Childers Classical Institute''. ACU is one of the largest private universities in the Sout ...

(ACU) from 1985-99. In 1993, the Men's and Women's programs merged. While at ACU, Kittley won his first

NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship The NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship refers to one of three annual collegiate outdoor track and field competitions for women organised by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for athletes from institutions that make ...

at the Division II level in 1985. He would go on to win the Championship in 1986, 1987, and 1988. Kittley's teams would also win many

NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship The NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship refers to one of three annual collegiate indoor track and field competitions for women organised by the National Collegiate Athletic Association for athletes from institutions that make up its th ...

s during his tenure in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999. Kittley's program won 29 national track and field championships, the most in Division I and II combined, and three short of the all-time record held by Jim Steen of

Kenyon College Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio. It was founded in 1824 by Philander Chase. Kenyon College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Kenyon has 1,708 undergraduates enrolled. Its 1,000-acre campus is se ...

. During his 15-year tenure at ACU, Kittley coached 12

Olympic Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...

qualifiers, 3

Pan-American Games The Pan American Games (also known colloquially as the Pan Am Games) is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas featuring summer sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The competition is held ...

athletes, five

World University Games The Universiade is an international multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The name is a portmanteau of the words "University" and "Olympiad". The Universiade is referred t ...

athletes, 16 athletes who qualified for the world championships, and one United States national champion.

Texas Tech, 2000-Present

In 2000, Kittley departed Abilene Christian to accept the head coaching job at

Texas Tech University Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas. Established on , and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the main institution of the five-institution Texas Tech University Sys ...

. In 2019, the Red Raiders won the Division I men's outdoor national championship. During his tenure, Kittley has produced many national champions: In addition to national champions, Kittley is responsible for producing 205

All-America The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed upon an amateur sports person from the United States who is considered to be one of the best amateurs in their sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an All-Am ...

ns, and 111

Big 12 Conference The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in Irving, Texas, USA. It consists of ten full-member universities. It is a member of Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for all sports. Its ...

champions. He guided Texas Tech to its first Big 12 team title in school history during the 2005 season. Kennedy Kithuka, one of Kittley's athletes, went undefeated during the 2012 season and was named the 2012 Male Athlete of the Year for Cross Country. The men's team would win the Big 12 Conference again in 2014 on their home track. Kittley was named the

Men's Coach of the Year for the team's performance. The Red Raiders swept the Big 12 Championships in 2018, winning both the indoor and outdoor titles for the first time in program history. Kittley was named the Women's Regional Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2012. He picked up the Men's Regional Coach of the Year award in 2015, 2017, and 2018. In 2006, he was also named to the

Lone Star Conference The Lone Star Conference (LSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. Member institutions are located in the southwestern United States, with schools in Tex ...

's Hall of Honor. Kittley's contract with Texas Tech received a 5-year extension in August 2014 to 2019 with a base salary of $265,000 increasing by $5,000 every year.

Olympic medalists

Personal life

Kittley was born in

Rule, Texas Rule is a town in Haskell County, Texas, United States. The population was 636 at the 2010 census, down from 698 at the 2000 census. The community was named for W. A. Rule, a railroad man. Geography Rule is in western Haskell County at the int ...

and is married to Linda Rhoads. They have three sons including Zach, who serves as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at

Texas Tech Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas. Established on , and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the main institution of the five-institution Texas Tech University Sys ...

university. Kittley is a graduate of

, with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education, and a master's degree in school administration. He was a three-time NAIA All-American in the 800M while he attended.

References

External links

Texas Tech profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kittley, Wes Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Texas Tech Red Raiders track and field coaches Abilene Christian Wildcats men's track and field athletes Abilene Christian Wildcats track and field coaches Abilene Christian University alumni Abilene Christian University faculty People from Haskell County, Texas Sportspeople from Texas American male middle-distance runners Texas Tech Red Raiders cross country coaches