LOUISVILLE, KY (June 6, 2012) – The Spalding University cross country and track & field teams and athletic director Roger Burkman have announced the hiring of Michael Eaton as graduate assistant coach.
Eaton comes to the Golden Eagle programs after spending five seasons as an athlete at the University of Louisville. He has recently moved back to Kentucky after spending six months in Flagstaff, Ariz., training for the US Olympic Trials Marathon (57th place in 2:20:52) held in January. He will pursue a master’s degree in business communication at Spalding.
A native of Bowling Green, Ky., Eaton was a several time state champion for Greenwood High School and qualified for the Footlocker National Championships as well as represented the USA at the Junior World Cross Country Championships. While at the University of Louisville, Eaton twice qualified for the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships in the 10,000m, was a Big East Cross Country Championships Runner-Up, was a Cross Country Southeast Regional 4th place finisher, and held the school record of 28:41.96 for 10,000m.
“We are very fortunate to have Michael as graduate assistant,” says Cross Country and Track & Field Coach Kevin Alessandro. “He has been competing at the top of the sport for his entire running career and bringing that level of experience as an athlete to the coaching staff is very exciting for our program. Eaton was a great student-athlete during his days at Greenwood High School and again at U of L; he’ll be a wonderful role model for this year’s teams.”
The Spalding University Department of Athletics sponsors 14 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division III level. The Golden Eagle athletic programs will emerge this fall from a four-year provisional period with the NCAA with full membership and the ability to participate in regional and national competition. Visit spaldingathletics.com for more information.
# # #
Spalding University offers an innovative schedule of seven six-week sessions per year, allowing students to earn a bachelor’s degree at their own pace. Spalding has graduate, undergraduate and accelerated programs with majors in accounting, business, creative writing, communication, education, humanities, natural science, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, social sciences and social work.
845 South Third Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40203
502-585-9911 / 800-896-8941
www.spalding.edu