the Gopher Men’s and Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country programs will be combined under a single coaching and support staff

"As we looked at ways we could more effectively support our track & field and cross country programs ... we realized our current structure of having the two programs operate separately was outdated and inefficient," said Athletics Director Mark Coyle.

Matt Bingle, who has served as the director of women's track & field and cross country for the past eight years and has led the women's track & field program for the last 11, will oversee the combined program going forward. Steve Plasencia, who has been the director of men's track & field and cross country since 2008, will stay on staff to oversee men's cross country and distance runners for the track & field program.

Gopher Track & Field and Cross Country is preparing to move into a new era. The state-of-the-art University of Minnesota Track & Field Stadium is scheduled to open this coming fall. In addition, the University's Field House, which the Gophers use for indoor competition, will undergo a significant renovation in the coming year to modernize both the interior and exterior of the facility. The programs will begin their next chapter together as the women come off a season in which they swept the Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Championships for the first time in program history