AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's University Associate Vice President for Athletics Debbie Taylor announced Friday the selection of Ryan Ponsonby as the fifth head cross country coach in the school's history.
 
The former University of Texas Indoor Track & Field All-American comes to St. Edward's with private professional coaching experience and a six-year stint with Nike-sponsored athletes from 2008-13.
 
"We are excited to have Ryan Ponsonby joining the Hilltop to lead our cross country program," Taylor said. "His recruiting and training of track athletes globally; as well as his successful coaching in the World Championships and Olympics, brings a new dimension to our program and to the student-athletes. I look forward to his leadership in our young program."
 
Among his coaching accomplishments, Ponsonby helped guide Leo Manzano to a 2012 Olympic Silver Medal at the London games in the 1,500-meter race, has coached athletes to two U.S. Championship titles, trained 10 NCAA All-Americans and two individual NCAA champions. He continues to work with elite mid-distance and distance runners around the globe.
 
"I am honored to join the St. Edward's athletics family. This is a truly unique opportunity to build a strong program at a fantastic university in the heart of Austin, a very running-centric town," said Ponsonby. "I'm thankful for Debbie Taylor and the entire administration for their faith and trust in me. I look forward to developing a strong culture of success for our student-athletes  athletically and beyond, and bringing pride to the Hilltop."
 
Prior to his stint with Nike, Ponsonby served as a volunteer assistant for the Texas Longhorns track & field program from 2006-08. As a collegian, Ponsonby was a 2004 NCAA Indoor Track and Field All-American. Ponsonby still ranks in UT's top-10 best finishes in four events.
 
Ponsonby also co-founded the sports media company for track & field called FloTrack that gathers valuable information from the top coaches and athletes in the country to help users improve their performances.
 
He will take over a SEU cross country program that saw the women's team set program-bests in finishes at the Heartland Conference championships (second) and the NCAA Regional meet (12^th) in 2017 while all the top finishers for the men's program have remaining eligibility. Ponsonby will replace former head coach David Chandler who entered private business in Austin in January, and Ponsonby begins work at SEU March 12.
 
Ponsonby graduated from the University of Texas in 2006 with a degree in kinesiology and a minor in business. He and his wife Anne reside in Austin.