Over this past weekend, Ericksen was named the head cross country and track and field coach at NCAA Division I Morehead State.

 

"Brent did an incredible job building our cross country and track and field programs to the elite level in the NAIA," Sayre said. "We appreciate all that he has done for our programs and SOU and wish him the best at Morehead State."

 

Ericksen was named SOU's head coach in 2008 and quickly turned SOU men's cross country team into a national title contender. During his three years at SOU, the Raiders won three Cascade Conference Men's Cross Country titles, the 2010 NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship and the 2010 NAIA Combined National Championship, and the men's track and field team was just edged at this past year's Cascade Conference Championships. Ericksen was named the NAIA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year this past Fall.

 

"I had the time of my life building the SOU Cross Country and Track programs over the last three years," Ericksen said. "These kids are second to none and winning the Men's National Championship and the Combined Team National Championship is something I will always cherish. SOU and these teams will always have a special place in my heart."

 

Gatlin is no stranger to SOU Athletics, competing for the Raiders in cross country and track and also serving as both a head coach and assistant coach for the Raiders.

 

"We're confident in Grier's ability to perpetuate the success of our current program," Sayre said. "He has a tremendous work ethic, he knows our university and program, and he knows the Cascade Conference. He'll continue the training program this year that has made our cross country team elite and work to bolster the track and field program with solid recruiting and an eye toward more dual-sport athletes."

 

From 1999-2005, Gatlin served as the head cross country coach for the Raiders and assistant track and field coach.

 

In cross country, Gatlin led the SOU men to back-to-back Cascade Conference titles in 2004 and 2005. The 2004 squad won the NAIA Regional Championship and placed 12th at the NAIA National Championships and the 2005 squad finished 10th at the national meet.

 

In 2001, Gatlin took over the SOU women's track and field program on an interim basis and led the team to a Cascade Conference Championship. That year's team had 10 conference champions and four All-Americans.

 

"This is an amazing opportunity to step into a program that has been so successful over the last couple years," Gatlin said. "It's also great to come back to the school where I competed and also got my coaching feet wet."

 

As a student-athlete at SOU, Gatlin was a three-time all-conference performer.

 

After SOU, Gatlin served as the co-head cross country and track and field coach at NCAA Division III Pacific during the 2006 and 2007 seasons and was the head cross country coach at Oregon Tech last year.

 

A national search will take place in the spring of 2012.

 

Joining Gatlin on the staff will be current assistant Kyle Hansen and longtime distance assistant Bob Julian.