Tuesday, May 16, 2023
by Central Washington Athletic Communications

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington University Director of Athletics Dennis Francois announced that head cross country and track & field coach Kevin Adkisson will not be retained after the current academic year.

Adkisson, a 1991 graduate of Willamette University, has been a fixture within Wildcat Athletics since he arrived in Ellensburg in the fall of 1991 as a graduate student and a volunteer coach.  He earned his master's degree in exercise science in 1993 and was hired as an assistant coach in the fall of 1993. Adkisson took over the program in 1994 upon the departure of long-time head coach Spike Arlt.

Under Adkisson's tenure Central Washington's cross country and track and field teams saw much success. Adkisson coached Krissy Tandle to the NCAA Division II shot put championship in 2009. Adkisson also oversaw 19 women's outdoor, 13 women's indoor, 23 men's outdoor and seven men's indoor All-Americans as the track and field coach.

Adkisson led the women's indoor team to a 16th place finish at the Division II Championhsips in 2009 and a 20th place finish in 2019. The women's indoor team also won the GNAC championship in 2018.

The men's indoor track team won the GNAC championship in 2007 and finished 29th in Division II in 2018, while the men's outdoor track team won the GNAC championship in 2006 and 2007.

The men's cross country team had two All-Americans while the women's cross country team had six All-Americans under Adkisson's guidance. The women's cross country team has finished in the top 25 in the nation three times, including the highest ranking being seventh in 2000 10th in 1999. The women's cross country team won the PacWest Conference and West Regional championships in 2000 and the GNAC championship in 2004.

"I want to thank Kevin for his 30-plus years of service to CWU.  He has definitely left an indelible mark on Wildcat Athletics, and we wish him the very best in the future," said Francois. 

Francois stated that a national search will be launched immediately to find Adkisson's replacement.  With the construction of a $9 million new track & field complex in 2018 and the much-anticipated completion of the $60 million Nicholson Pavilion renovation this September, Francois is confident that the position will attract a broad and diverse pool of qualified candidates.