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Utah Track and Field Hires Mackenzie Wartenberger as Assistant Coach
6/11/2015 12:00 AM | Track & Field
June 11, 2015
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SALT LAKE CITY - Utah head track and cross country coach Kyle Kepler has announced the hiring of Mackenzie Wartenberger as an assistant track and cross country coach.
"We are very excited to add Mackenzie Wartenberger to our staff as an assistant coach," Kepler said. "She will help me with the cross country team in the fall and then also assist with the distance runners on the track. Mackenzie has been successful everywhere she has been in both cross country and track and field. She was a successful middle distance athlete in the Pac-10 (now Pac-12) while at Cal. She has been successful at developing student athletes and teams as a coach. She has greatly improved the overall level of the programs she has been at previously. I have no doubt she will be able to help us do the same here at Utah. She brings great energy and passion to coaching and recruiting. She is a tireless recruiter who I believe will help us attract outstanding young women near and far. Most importantly, Mackenzie is committed to the overall growth of our student-athletes as people. I know she will be able to help us continue to raise the profile and success of our cross country and track and field programs within the Pac-12 and on the national scene."
Wartenberger comes to Utah from Radford University, where she has spent the past two seasons as the head cross country coach and track assistant distance coach. In 2014 the women's cross country team finished third in the Big South Conference, their best finish since 1990, and had two all-conference performers. The men finished fourth for their best finish since 2007. In track, she helped Radford win six conference titles in women's distance races.
"I am extremely excited to join the Utah cross country and track and field programs!" Wartenberger said. "Utah's reputation for excellence in academics and athletics precedes itself. I want to thank the track and field and cross country staff, as well as the administration, for this incredible opportunity. Coach Kepler and Coach Herber have done a great job building the Utah program, and I am looking forward to helping them propel the Utes towards being contenders on the Pac-12 and NCAA level!"
Wartenberger spent four seasons at UNC Charlotte (2009-13) as an assistant distance coach. Between the men's and women's distance squads, she coached three NCAA Outdoor Championships qualifiers, nine NCAA regional qualifiers, three USATF Championships qualifiers, and two Atlantic 10 Conference champions. Charlotte won 12 team conference titles in indoor and outdoor track.
Wartenberger (formerly Pierce) competed in track and cross country at California from 2005-09. She was the 2009 MPSF Champion in the 800. Wartenberger was a member of the 4x400-meter relay team that that finished 18th at the 2007 NCAA Championships, and is part of the group that holds the school record in the event. In 2007 she advanced to the semifinals in the 800 at the USA Championships and was a two-time regional qualifier in the event. Wartenberger's career-best 800 time of 2:04.78 currently ranks sixth all-time at Cal.
Warternberger, who is originally from North Carolina, earned a bachelor of arts degree from California in peace and conflict studies in 2009. She is married to husband Marc.
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