Justin Hill Named Emporia State Cross Country Coach

Men's Cross Country | 5/29/2024 10:31:00 AM

May 29, 2024-With the recent retirement of Dr. Mark Stanbrough from coaching, Justin Hill has been promoted to head cross country coach at Emporia State and will be in charge of the middle distance and distance runners for the Hornet track and field program.

"Justin has been a big part of Emporia State Cross Country/Track and Field for the last three years, and I look forward to seeing him continue to grow the program into a consistently competitive group with his knowledge, hard work, and dedication," said Mischke. "Our visions are similar regarding what needs to be done to make Emporia State Cross Country a program that can challenge the best in the MIAA.  I am eager to continue working on these items with him in his new role."

Hill has been the director of operations and assistant cross country coach for the Hornets since 2021. He played an integral role in the recently completed NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field National Championships held at Welch Stadium and Witten Track.  He served as meet director for Emporia State's regular season home meets in addition to overseeing the operational aspects of the Hornet cross country and track and field programs for the last three years.

"I am thrilled to be the next head coach of the Hornet cross country teams.  As an assistant coach and director of operations for the past three years, I have gotten to know the athletes and the program, which makes me feel prepared to take on the challenge," said Hill. "I look forward to hitting the ground running – no pun intended - with recruiting top caliber athletes, developing a distance program that is capable of success in our conference, and to continue building meaningful relationships with the student-athletes."

Prior to ESU, Hill spent nine years coaching cross country and track and field in Andover, Kan. In his eight years as head cross country coach, the Trojans placed in the top three at the KSHSAA State cross country championships four times, including a runner-up team finish in 2018. He was twice named the Class 5A Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year by the by the Kansas Cross Country and Track & Field Coaches Association. In 2020, he served as the race director for the Kansas High School State Cross Country meet.
 
He was the head track and field coach at Andover HS in 2020 after spending the previous eight years as an assistant. The Trojans finished third at the KSHSAA Class 5A State Championships and Hill was named the Wichita Metro Area Coach of the Year. He coached three individual and two relays to state championships in his time as an assistant and head coach.

Dr. Mark Stanbrough just completed the sixth year of his return to Emporia State as an assistant coach in track and field in charge of the middle distance and distance runners and the cross country program. Since his return he has coached one MIAA Champion in cross country and three on the track and has taken two individuals to the NCAA Cross Country National Championships. Stanbrough was the head men's and women's track and field and cross country coach for the Hornets from 1984-1992. During that span the Hornets were a national power with three top five national finishes in cross country. Stanbrough was named NAIA District 10 Coach of the Year 11 times, coached 28 Athletes to 60 NAIA All-American Honors, and coached eleven national champions. The cross country harriers had two top five national finishes, with the women national runner-ups and the men placing fifth.

Hill graduated from Shawnee Mission West HS and ran collegiately at Baker University. He was a NAIA national qualifier in cross country and a HAAC Champion of Character.
 
Justin and his wife Jenna have two children, Delilah and Declan.