Miami Athletics, Tom Chorny, Agree to Extension
11/21/2019 11:38:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country, Cross Country
The RedHawks’ Director of Track & Field/Cross Country agreed to an extension to keep him in Oxford through 2023.
OXFORD, Ohio – Miami University Athletics and Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Tom Chorny have agreed to a three-year extension that will keep Chorny at the helm of the program until 2023.
Chorny, who has coached at Miami since 2015-16 and was officially named to his current position prior to the 2016-17 campaign, has helped vault the RedHawks into a contender at the Mid-American Conference level while developing several student-athletes into the national stage. Under his guidance, Miami's men's cross country team has finished in the top two of the MAC standings four-straight years. In 2018, the RedHawk men captured their first MAC Cross Country Championship since 1998 as he was named MAC Men's Coach of the Year for his efforts. He also stabilized the men's outdoor track and field results as the team placed third at the 2019 MAC Outdoor Championships, MU's highest finish since 1994.
The success on the women's side has also been impressive as the RedHawks have taken third in three-straight MAC Cross Country Championships. MU has also finished in the top half in two of the past three MAC Outdoor Championships after placing eighth or lower each of the prior three seasons.
"The work that Tom has done with the combined program is remarkable," Director of Athletics David Sayler said. "Our distance group in particular has taken immense steps forward from a team and individual standpoint. We're excited to keep Tom in Oxford continuing to Graduate Champions."
Beyond the team success, several individuals have shined on the national stage. In three seasons as the director of the program, the RedHawks have sent seven individuals to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, with Andrew Dusing's sixth-place finish in the 1500m in 2017 representing the first time the men have had a first-team All-American since the 2005 season. Additionally, in his first three seasons in his position, a RedHawk has captured a specialty award at the MAC Outdoor Championships four times, with Maria Scavuzzo and Olivia Bechtel garnering Most Outstanding Track Performance honors in 2018 and 2019, respectively, Sean Torpy earning Most Valuable Performer honor in 2019 and Ryan Smith capturing MAC Field Freshman of the Year in 2019.
"I've been impressed with Miami since the first day I stepped on campus," Chorny said. "I feel very fortunate to be doing something I love and I'm now both flattered and honored to have the chance to continue with these teams for the next three years. We've worked hard to improve this program and we're excited to see how much better they can still become."
Chorny, a 1999 graduate of Indiana University, helped the Hoosiers in a volunteer coaching capacity from 2007-13. He helped mold three Big Ten champions, 23 NCAA Regional qualifiers and 11 All-Americans in the steeplechase during his coaching stint in Bloomington while also managing the Indiana Running Company.
A standout distance runner, Chorny enjoyed a competitive career filled with accolades at all levels of the sport. He was a four-time Michigan High School Athletic Association state champion and a 1994 Footlocker National Finalist at Fruitport High School. Collegiately, Chorny was a three-time All-American and continued his career professionally after graduation.
In the pro ranks, Chorny won the steeplechase at USA Track and Field Championships in 2001, earning a spot on Team USA at the World Championships and Goodwill Games that year. He achieved a world ranking as high as No. 35 in the steeplechase in 2002 and remained in the top 40 to 2004. He was also a member of the Nike Farm Team and Oregon Track Club from 2004-06.
Chorny earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Indiana in 1999.
Chorny, who has coached at Miami since 2015-16 and was officially named to his current position prior to the 2016-17 campaign, has helped vault the RedHawks into a contender at the Mid-American Conference level while developing several student-athletes into the national stage. Under his guidance, Miami's men's cross country team has finished in the top two of the MAC standings four-straight years. In 2018, the RedHawk men captured their first MAC Cross Country Championship since 1998 as he was named MAC Men's Coach of the Year for his efforts. He also stabilized the men's outdoor track and field results as the team placed third at the 2019 MAC Outdoor Championships, MU's highest finish since 1994.
The success on the women's side has also been impressive as the RedHawks have taken third in three-straight MAC Cross Country Championships. MU has also finished in the top half in two of the past three MAC Outdoor Championships after placing eighth or lower each of the prior three seasons.
"The work that Tom has done with the combined program is remarkable," Director of Athletics David Sayler said. "Our distance group in particular has taken immense steps forward from a team and individual standpoint. We're excited to keep Tom in Oxford continuing to Graduate Champions."
Beyond the team success, several individuals have shined on the national stage. In three seasons as the director of the program, the RedHawks have sent seven individuals to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, with Andrew Dusing's sixth-place finish in the 1500m in 2017 representing the first time the men have had a first-team All-American since the 2005 season. Additionally, in his first three seasons in his position, a RedHawk has captured a specialty award at the MAC Outdoor Championships four times, with Maria Scavuzzo and Olivia Bechtel garnering Most Outstanding Track Performance honors in 2018 and 2019, respectively, Sean Torpy earning Most Valuable Performer honor in 2019 and Ryan Smith capturing MAC Field Freshman of the Year in 2019.
"I've been impressed with Miami since the first day I stepped on campus," Chorny said. "I feel very fortunate to be doing something I love and I'm now both flattered and honored to have the chance to continue with these teams for the next three years. We've worked hard to improve this program and we're excited to see how much better they can still become."
Chorny, a 1999 graduate of Indiana University, helped the Hoosiers in a volunteer coaching capacity from 2007-13. He helped mold three Big Ten champions, 23 NCAA Regional qualifiers and 11 All-Americans in the steeplechase during his coaching stint in Bloomington while also managing the Indiana Running Company.
A standout distance runner, Chorny enjoyed a competitive career filled with accolades at all levels of the sport. He was a four-time Michigan High School Athletic Association state champion and a 1994 Footlocker National Finalist at Fruitport High School. Collegiately, Chorny was a three-time All-American and continued his career professionally after graduation.
In the pro ranks, Chorny won the steeplechase at USA Track and Field Championships in 2001, earning a spot on Team USA at the World Championships and Goodwill Games that year. He achieved a world ranking as high as No. 35 in the steeplechase in 2002 and remained in the top 40 to 2004. He was also a member of the Nike Farm Team and Oregon Track Club from 2004-06.
Chorny earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Indiana in 1999.
Players Mentioned
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