June 30, 2016
Vanderbilt’s Rhonda Riley has been named the head coach of women’s cross country at Duke University. Riley will also serve as an assistant track and field coach for the Devils.
Riley, who joined the Vanderbilt staff in 2007, played a key role in the Commodores’ recent run of success that has included five consecutive appearances in the NCAA Championships (2011-2015) and two straight South Region titles (2014 and 2015).
Riley was named associate head coach in 2014 and has also served as recruiting coordinator on head coach Steve Keith’s staff.
“I want to thank Steve Keith for the opportunity to work along side him the past 9 years,” said Riley. “I have enjoyed my time at Vanderbilt and wouldn’t be where I am today without Steve’s mentorship and trust in me as a coach. I know the program is in great hands moving forward and I will truly miss the team and the Vanderbilt community that I have grown close to.”
With Riley helping lead the way, the Vanderbilt program enjoyed numerous breakthroughs in the past seven years, including the team’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Championships in 2011 and first-ever Region title in 2014. The Commodores also won the SEC Championship for the first time in program history in 2011.
“I want to thank Coach Riley for all of her hard work and dedication these past nine years,” said Keith. “Rhonda has been a tireless recruiter, an excellent mentor and has really developed and matured as a coach. I’ve always said that you are only an assistant coach so that you can become a head coach and, for Coach Riley, this will be the case as she will now be in charge her own women’s team at Duke.”
“With Coach Riley’s departure we now have a very appealing position to offer and I look forward to the search for a coach that can bring a new energy and excitement to our program,” said Keith.
