GUELPH, Ont. - Following an extensive national search, the University of Guelph's Department of Athletics has named
Terry Radchenko the new leader of the Gryphons cross country and endurance programs. Radchenko comes to Guelph from the University of Toronto and Toronto Track Club where he has spent the better part of the last decade building and coaching one of the top endurance running programs in the country.
"I'm so excited to begin this new journey as a member of the Gryphon family," says Radchenko, who takes over as head coach of the Gryphons men's and women's cross country teams, while also serving as associate head coach with the Gryphon track and field teams.
"I have already felt so welcomed by our athletes, coaches, administration and alumni, alike. As a coach, I believe honest and open communication is key to our success and focusing on our student-athlete's well-being is my number one priority. We're going to set big goals; work hard and train smart to achieve them; and have a ton of fun along the way. I can't wait to get started!"
Radchenko spent the last nine years at the University of Toronto, helping build their endurance program into a national powerhouse that helped the Varsity Blues win three consecutive U SPORTS women's Track and Field championships (2015-2017) and one U SPORTS cross country championship (2018). He guided dozens of student-athletes to national team selections, including three Olympians. He has worked at every level of the sport from youth development to high-performance and is one of the most well-respected endurance coaches in Canada.
"It is a great day to be a Gryphon," says
Jason Kerr, head coach of the U of G track and field program and two-time OUA and U SPORTS Coach of the Year in both men's and women's Track & Field.
"Terry Radchenko is a world-class coach with a resume that speaks for itself. He coaches with integrity and exudes passion and positive energy that resonates with everyone around him. I have admired his work for years and sincerely believe we've hired the best coach in Canada to help lead our team into the future."
Although the Gryphons regular season schedules for the upcoming cross country and track and field seasons have yet to be confirmed, the U SPORTS office has already released details regarding the 2021-22 national championship lineup. The U SPORTS Cross Country Championships will be held in Quebec City on November 20, 2021, while the Canadian university track and field season will culminate in Atlantic Canada (March 10-12, 2022) with UNB serving as host of the three-day national championship meet at Irving Oil Field House in Saint John, New Brunswick. The Gryphons have swept national championship banners in men's and women's track and field each of the past three seasons, while the U of G men's and women's cross country teams have combined for 28 national titles in program history (15 on the men's side, 13 on the women's).
"Our goal is to be a championship-calibre program across the full gamut of our sport," adds Gryphon track and field head coach, Jason Kerr. "We want to be successful in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. We want to do it with integrity and deliver a transformative student-athlete experience. Terry is the perfect person to help us build on our recent success and continue to attract top student-athletes around the country."
