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Craig Binkley begins his second season as an assistant coach for the Colonels' cross country and track and field programs. He will be responsible for coaching distance runners. Last season, nine distance runners garnered performances that ranked them amongst the top five in Nicholls history. Binkley came to Nicholls from Division II Colorado State University-Pueblo, where he served as the head women's cross country coach. Starting the program from scratch, Binkley was responsible for the team's travel, budget, practices, scheduling, fund-raising and recruiting. Prior to his one-year stint at Colorado State-Pueblo, Binkley returned to his alma mater, Augustana College in Sioux Fall, S.D., as an assistant coach for the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams. While at Augustana College, Binkley was responsible for recruiting athletes from Colorado and California, as well as coaching the men's and women's distance runners during the indoor and outdoor season. In 2004 the men's cross country team was ranked as high as No. 24 in the nation, while the women were ranked as high as No. 21 in the nation in 2003. During his two-year tenure, Binkley coached one All-American, three conference champions and five all-conference athletes. While working on his masters, Binkley served as a graduate assistant coach at Emporia State University, where he assisted with a variety of tasks, including the hosting of the 2001-02 MIAA Conference Cross Country and Outdoor Track and Field Meets. At Emporia State, one of Binkley's runners achieved all-america honors after winning the conference and regional championships. The women's track and field team also went on to win the MIAA Conference Indoor Championship in 2002 and outdoor championships in 2002 and 2003. Nine total athletes went on to earn all-conference honors in indoor and outdoor track and field. A runner for Augustana College from 1996-2000, Binkley garnered all-region cross country honors in 1999, on a team that placed ninth nationally. He went on to earn all-conference honors in the 3,000 meters during the 2000 indoor season and the 10,000 meters during the 1999 and 2000 outdoor season. A native of Pueblo, Colo., Binkley received a bachelor's degree in Physical Education from Augustana College in December, 2000 and went on to earn his master's in Physical Education from Emporia State University in August, 2003. He currently serves as an expert coach for the Carmichael Training Systems, an online coaching company that trains cyclists, runners and tri-athletes. Binkley is single and resides in Thibodaux. |
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