Mick Byrne has been named Director of Cross-Country and Track and Field for Wisconsin’s newly-combined men’s and women’s program, UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez announced Thursday.
Byrne, who has been the head men’s cross-country coach and assistant track coach at Wisconsin for the past five seasons, and who has led the men’s cross country team to five Big Ten championships – including the 2011 NCAA championship – will oversee what will become the seventh Big Ten Conference combined men’s and women’s cross country and track programs.
“This is a special day for me,” Byrne said at a press conference Thursday. “I came to Wisconsin five years ago and fell in love with everything this university and this athletic program had to offer. To have the opportunity to lead not only our men’s distance runners, but our entire track and field programs is truly a dream come true for me.”
Byrne takes over for longtime men’s track and field head coach, Ed Nuttycombe, who made his retirement official on Thursday. Nuttycombe led the Badgers to 26 Big Ten titles and the indoor national championship in 2007 during his tenure in Madison.
“I couldn’t think of anyone better equipped to move our track and cross-country programs forward than Mick,” Nuttycombe said. “I know the Badgers are in good hands.”
For Alvarez, the decision to name Byrne as Nuttycombe’s successor was a no-brainer.
“It was not a very hard choice,” Alvarez said. “I think everybody realized the ability and the success that Mick had, and I couldn’t be more pleased that he accepted the position of director of cross-country and track of our entire track program.”
Byrne, recipient of 32 conference coach of the year honors in cross country, including 22 straight awards between his time at Iona College and his five seasons at UW, was also honored as 2011 National Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
“I’m here because I love the challenge,” Byrne said. “I learned so much from [Nuttycombe] in my time here, and we’re going to give it everything we have to continue the tradition of winning that he’s established over the last 30 years.”
