Walt Drenth, Director of the Men's and Women's XC and T&F Programs
Bio
Bio
Joining the Michigan State program as head men's cross country coach and assistant men's track
and field coach in 2004, Drenth was appointed director of the men's and women's cross country
and track and field programs at Michigan State on June 2, 2006.
In more that 20 years of collegiate coaching, Walt Drenth has amassed a wealth of coaching
honors. Since 1985, Drenth has led 19 teams to NCAA Championship appearances and has
coached 39 All-Amencan and seven Academic All-Americans, in both track & cross country.
Additionally, Drenth has been recognized by his conference and regional peers as Coach of the
Year on 16 occasions.
Drenth made an immediate impact at Michigan State, leading the men's cross country team to its
first NCAA Championship in three years during his first season. In his first two seasons, MSU has
finished seventh at the Great Lakes Regional each year and narrowly missed the national stage for
the second year in-a-row in 2005.
Before arriving at Michigan State, Drenth was responsible for a drastic turnaround of the cross
country programs during his tenure (1996-2004) at Arizona State. Prior to his arrival, ASU's women
had never made a team appearance at nationals, never earned a national ranking, and never had
produced an All-American. The Sun Devil women had not finished higher than sixth at the West
Regional since 1986, and had only three finishes better than seventh at the Pac-10 meet.
The Sun Devil men also had never made a team appearance at nationals, earned a national ranking,
finished higher than seventh at the Pac-10 Championships only three times, and higher than
seventh at the West Regional only once prior to 1996.
After taking the reins, the ASU women made trips to the NCAA Championships six years in a row
(1998-2003) including a school-best sixth-place finish in 2000. ASU was ranked as high as No. # in
the nation during the 2001 season, and had a streak of four straight years (1998-2001) in which a
Sun Devil earned All-American honors. For his efforts, Drenth was named Pac-10 Women's Cross
Country Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2000, and was also selected as the West Region Women's
Cross Coach of the year in 2000.
Under Drenth's tutelage, the ASU men had five top-four finishes at the Pac-10 Championships and
placed in the top five regionally four times. The Sun Devils made two trips to the NCAA
Championships (1999, 2001), finishing as high as 14th in 1999. Drenth also coached Fasil Bizuneh
to All-American honors twice (1999, 2001) and ASU was ranked as high as ninth national during the
1999 season.
Prior to his arrival, ASU had two All-Americans total between men's (2) and women's (0) programs.
In just eight seasons under Drenth, ASU runners earned All-American honors eight times. Drenth
also coached the first female Sun Devil harrier to be named Pac-10 Athlete of the Year and NCAA
West Regional Athlete of the Year, and helped both one male and one female runner earn the
program's first Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year awards. Before 1996, six Sun Devils earned
all-conference; during Drenth's eight seasons, 15 student-athletes earned 20 selections to the first
or second team, and 32 times a Sun Devil earned all region honors.
Drenth also made an impact on the track at ASU. In his tenure, the Sun Devils had eight NCAA Top
20 finishes and his athletes received All-American honors 16 times. The ASU men's teams finished
fourth or higher at the Pac-10 Championships each of the past five years, while the women placed
fifth or better each of he last five seasons. In the classroom, three Sun Devils were named
Academic All-American in cross country and three more in track and field, while his cross country
teams were named Team Academic All-America with Distinction (team grade-point average 0f 3.25
or above) four times.
Before going to ASU, Drenth led the William & Mary men to five Colonial Athletic Association cross
country titles and two track and filed crowns in six years (1990-95). He was named CAA Cross
Country Coach of the Year on five occasions, including each of his last four seasons in
Williamsburg. He also was tabbed as District II Coach of the Year in 1990 and 1995. William &
Mary was the District II champion in cross country in 1990.
Drenth's harriers competed at three NCAA Championship meets in 1990 (15th), 1994 (18th) and
1995 (17th). On the track, Drenth led William & Mary to two CAA titles (1992, 1993). He tutored two
All-American cross country runners and eight All-American distance runners in his six seasons in
Williamsburg.
Prior to his stint at William & Mary, Drenth was the head cross country coach and assistant tack
coach at his alma mater, Central Michigan university, from 1985-90. He was named District IV
Coach of the Year in 1989 after leading CMU to the District IV title. He led the Chippewas to two
Mid-American Conf. titles, (1988, 89) and was named MAC Cross Country Coach of th Year both
years. Drenth also led CMU to three successive CCC titles from 1987-89, and was selected CC
Cross Country Coach of the Year all three years. He coached two cross country All-Americans and
three All-Americans on the track.
Drenth earned his bachelor's degree in psychology and political science from CMU in 1981 and his
master's in physical education from CMU in 1990. Drenth and his with, Cara, have two children,
Emma and Gerrit.
and field coach in 2004, Drenth was appointed director of the men's and women's cross country
and track and field programs at Michigan State on June 2, 2006.
In more that 20 years of collegiate coaching, Walt Drenth has amassed a wealth of coaching
honors. Since 1985, Drenth has led 19 teams to NCAA Championship appearances and has
coached 39 All-Amencan and seven Academic All-Americans, in both track & cross country.
Additionally, Drenth has been recognized by his conference and regional peers as Coach of the
Year on 16 occasions.
Drenth made an immediate impact at Michigan State, leading the men's cross country team to its
first NCAA Championship in three years during his first season. In his first two seasons, MSU has
finished seventh at the Great Lakes Regional each year and narrowly missed the national stage for
the second year in-a-row in 2005.
Before arriving at Michigan State, Drenth was responsible for a drastic turnaround of the cross
country programs during his tenure (1996-2004) at Arizona State. Prior to his arrival, ASU's women
had never made a team appearance at nationals, never earned a national ranking, and never had
produced an All-American. The Sun Devil women had not finished higher than sixth at the West
Regional since 1986, and had only three finishes better than seventh at the Pac-10 meet.
The Sun Devil men also had never made a team appearance at nationals, earned a national ranking,
finished higher than seventh at the Pac-10 Championships only three times, and higher than
seventh at the West Regional only once prior to 1996.
After taking the reins, the ASU women made trips to the NCAA Championships six years in a row
(1998-2003) including a school-best sixth-place finish in 2000. ASU was ranked as high as No. # in
the nation during the 2001 season, and had a streak of four straight years (1998-2001) in which a
Sun Devil earned All-American honors. For his efforts, Drenth was named Pac-10 Women's Cross
Country Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2000, and was also selected as the West Region Women's
Cross Coach of the year in 2000.
Under Drenth's tutelage, the ASU men had five top-four finishes at the Pac-10 Championships and
placed in the top five regionally four times. The Sun Devils made two trips to the NCAA
Championships (1999, 2001), finishing as high as 14th in 1999. Drenth also coached Fasil Bizuneh
to All-American honors twice (1999, 2001) and ASU was ranked as high as ninth national during the
1999 season.
Prior to his arrival, ASU had two All-Americans total between men's (2) and women's (0) programs.
In just eight seasons under Drenth, ASU runners earned All-American honors eight times. Drenth
also coached the first female Sun Devil harrier to be named Pac-10 Athlete of the Year and NCAA
West Regional Athlete of the Year, and helped both one male and one female runner earn the
program's first Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year awards. Before 1996, six Sun Devils earned
all-conference; during Drenth's eight seasons, 15 student-athletes earned 20 selections to the first
or second team, and 32 times a Sun Devil earned all region honors.
Drenth also made an impact on the track at ASU. In his tenure, the Sun Devils had eight NCAA Top
20 finishes and his athletes received All-American honors 16 times. The ASU men's teams finished
fourth or higher at the Pac-10 Championships each of the past five years, while the women placed
fifth or better each of he last five seasons. In the classroom, three Sun Devils were named
Academic All-American in cross country and three more in track and field, while his cross country
teams were named Team Academic All-America with Distinction (team grade-point average 0f 3.25
or above) four times.
Before going to ASU, Drenth led the William & Mary men to five Colonial Athletic Association cross
country titles and two track and filed crowns in six years (1990-95). He was named CAA Cross
Country Coach of the Year on five occasions, including each of his last four seasons in
Williamsburg. He also was tabbed as District II Coach of the Year in 1990 and 1995. William &
Mary was the District II champion in cross country in 1990.
Drenth's harriers competed at three NCAA Championship meets in 1990 (15th), 1994 (18th) and
1995 (17th). On the track, Drenth led William & Mary to two CAA titles (1992, 1993). He tutored two
All-American cross country runners and eight All-American distance runners in his six seasons in
Williamsburg.
Prior to his stint at William & Mary, Drenth was the head cross country coach and assistant tack
coach at his alma mater, Central Michigan university, from 1985-90. He was named District IV
Coach of the Year in 1989 after leading CMU to the District IV title. He led the Chippewas to two
Mid-American Conf. titles, (1988, 89) and was named MAC Cross Country Coach of th Year both
years. Drenth also led CMU to three successive CCC titles from 1987-89, and was selected CC
Cross Country Coach of the Year all three years. He coached two cross country All-Americans and
three All-Americans on the track.
Drenth earned his bachelor's degree in psychology and political science from CMU in 1981 and his
master's in physical education from CMU in 1990. Drenth and his with, Cara, have two children,
Emma and Gerrit.