2011 Men's Cross Country Coaches
Bob Willey
Head Coach - 29th Season
Willey is in his second stint as Head Men's and Women's Cross Country & Track Coach, which began in 1986.
He earned a Bachelors of Science in Health & Physical Education from Rio Grande College in 1973 . Willey went on to earn his Masters in Health Education from Union College in 1975.
Willey's first stint as Head Track & Cross Country Coach at Rio Grande College was from 1975-1979.
He left to become Head Men's Track and Cross Country Coach at Morehead State University and was there from 1979-1985 before returning to Rio Grande.
While at Rio Grande Willey has coached five Individual National Champions, 100 All-Americans and 44 Academic All-Americans .
Brandon Baston
Assistant Coach - 2nd Season
Brandon Baston is no stranger to the Rio Grande program. Baston is a native of Cleveland, OH and attended John F. Kennedy High School. While at JFK, Baston qualified for the Ohio State track meet twice and earned All-Ohio honors as a senior, placing 3rd in the state.
After high school Baston ran track for four years at the University of Rio Grande, qualifying for the NAIA National Meet in two events (4 x 100 and 4 x 400-meter relays) and ranked 4th and 5th in the nation respectively.
Baston graduated from Rio Grande in 2009 with a AAS in Information Technology and a BS in Technical Studies.
While at Rio Grande Baston also played junior varsity basketball and was a student assistant coach for the men's basketball team for four years. He spent last year as a graduate assistant. Baston has been on staff at Rio Grande's hard work basketball camp for each of the last two years and his team advanced to the championship of the tournament both years.
As a member of the cross country and track and field staffs, Baston responsilities will primarily lie with the track program. He specializes in sprinting, hurdling and jump events. "I am here to build a foundation for student athletes to graduate and succeed on the track also," Baston said.
Brandon is the son of Andrea Baston.
Steve Gruenberg
Assistant Coach - 1st Season
