Plainview – Wayland Baptist Athletics has announced that
Toby Kirk will step in as the Interim Head Coach of the Pioneer Men's and Women's Track and Field program for the 2025 season.
Kirk joined the Pioneer Track and Field and Cross-Country programs in the Fall of 2023 after several successful seasons as coach at four different stops. Kirk has had coaching stints at Cameron University, Portales High School, Melrose High School, and Eastern New Mexico University.
"I'm blessed for the opportunity and thankful for the university," Kirk said referencing his excitement for the opportunity to lead the program. "I'm excited to watch this track program grow in every way, and I can't thank Jim Giacomazzi and
Dr. Donna Hedgepath enough for the opportunity to continue to guide this program in the direction we have steered it over the last year and a half."
"We are excited for this opportunity for Toby. He has been at Wayland Baptist for the past two years, and he knows what it takes to get the best out of his athletes," said Wayland Baptist Director of Athletics Jim Giacomazzi. "He helped recruit multiple athletes in the Track and Field and Cross-Country program now, so his familiarity with the team will help them achieve immediate success."
Kirk ran for four years with Eastern New Mexico University, and competed in the 3,000m Steeplechase and the 1500m for the Greyhounds. Throughout his years of running, he also helped volunteer at several high schools in the Eastern New Mexico area.
Kirk walked away from his coaching career in New Mexico with a State Runner-Up track team title, and a cross-country team state appearance for both boys and girls in the second year of the program.
During his time at ENMU, he was on the Dean's List in Spring of 2020 and Fall of 2021. He also made the Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll in Spring 2020.
In Kirk's past, he coached the athletes at Cameron University to nine school records between men's and women's events, including the 60m dash, the 400m dash, and the 4x100m relay. At Cameron, Kirk guided multiple relays to the Lone Star Conference Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
Last season with the Pioneers, Kirk had one runner reach the NCCAA Cross-Country National Championships, and he had multiple athletes compete in the Sooner Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships. Kirk had athletes record personal-best times in the 1500m, 3000m steeplechase, and 10,000m throughout the season.
This past cross-country season, Kirk had four NCCAA All-Americans, 5 All-SAC Runners, one NCCAA Male Athlete of the Week, and two NAIA Cross-Country National Championship qualifiers.
The Pioneers will begin their 2025 Track and Field season on Friday, January 17th at the Texas Tech University Corky Classic in Lubbock, Texas.
