Conor Holt Named Head Coach Of The Cross Country/Track & Field Programs

MIDLAND, MICH. – The Northwood University athletic department has announced the hiring of Conor Holt as the head coach of the cross country/track & field programs.

"Conor Holt brings an incredible record of success to our track and cross country programs," said Dave Marsh, Northwood Athletic Director. "He has demonstrated the ability to recruit and develop student-athletes to perform at a high level. With Conor at the helm we have a strong, well-rounded staff which gives Northwood track and cross country a bright future."

Holt comes to Northwood after a highly successful five-year run as the head coach at Oklahoma City University. Since 2013, he has led the Stars to three NAIA Men's Cross Country team championships (2013, 2014, 2015), 69 All-Americans and four individual National Champions. A three-time NAIA Cross Country Coach of the Year, Holt had led Oklahoma City to 31 school records and 28 Academic All-Americans. He has also shown marked improvement with the women's cross country program, with the team placing sixth at the NAIA championships in 2015. That was the highest finish in program history.  The track programs also among the best in NAIA under Holt. Last season, the men placed second while the women finished ninth in the NAIA Program of the Year standings, which combined the national team results from cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field.

Prior to his time at Oklahoma City, Holt was an assistant coach at a pair of high-profile Division I programs. From 2007-2011, he worked at Purdue University. While in West Lafayette, Holt guided the Boilermakers to eight regional track qualifiers, four Big Ten medal winners and 14 conference place winners.

Holt also spent two years as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Oregon State University. While at OSU, Holt mentored the first Regional Track qualifiers and Pac-10 Conference scorer (Ashley Younce -10,000 meters).

As a private coach, Holt has helped his wife, Camille Herron, become one of the top ultra-distance runners in the world. Herron is a three-time qualifier for the US Olympic Marathon Trials, a 20-time marathon winner and a two-time world champion (50K, 100K). She also holds the world record in the 50-mile run.

Holt was a six-time All-American at the University of Oklahoma – three times in cross country and three time in track. He finished in the top-14 in the NCAA Cross Country Championships three times and took home the Big 8 Championship in the 10,000 meters in 1996.

A native of Ireland, Holt was a three-time junior national champion, taking home two 5,000 meter titles and one 3,000 meter championships. He was a member of the Junior World Cross Country team from 1989-91. Holt also participated at the Junior World Track & Field Championships in 1990 and the World University Games in 1993.

"I'm very excited to start a new chapter at Northwood," said Holt. "I would like to thank Dave Marsh and Dr. (Keith) Pretty for having faith in me to lead the program. While we are sad to be leaving Oklahoma, I am very proud of all of the things we have accomplished. We have a great staff in place at Northwood and I am looking forward to accomplishing great things in Michigan."