Bye Takes Over Women's Track and Cross Country Programs
December 03, 2001 | Women's Track and Field
Aug. 29, 2001
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville Director of Athletics Tom Jurich announced today the hiring of Warren Bye as the Cardinals' head women's track and field and cross country coach. Bye has served the last three years as an assistant coach for both the U of L men's and women's teams before the programs were divided this summer.
"I am thrilled about becoming Louisville's head women's cross country and track and field coach," said Bye. "It is a great opportunity for me. My goal is for this team to be in a position to compete for the conference title every year and qualify as many student-athletes for nationals and beyond as possible."
Bye brings 11 years of coaching experience to the Cardinals, including six at the NCAA Division I level. He is well-versed in the technical events, having shared coaching and training duties with both former NCAA Decathlon Champion Kerry Zimmerman (Indiana, '83) and 2000 Heptathlon Olympian De De Nathan (Indiana, '91).
"We are really excited for Warren and our women's track and cross country programs," said Jurich. "Under his direction, coupled with our new facility at Cardinal Park, our women's teams will continue to make a splash on the national scene."
In just three short years at U of L, Bye has been involved in developing 15 of the school's current record holders, including Jen Carlsen, the 2000 Conference USA heptathlon runner-up.
"Warren has done a super job for several years organizing and implementing a plan for the student-athletes under his care," said Gene Weis, who has served as the head coach for both the U of L men and women the past five years and will now turn his focus to only the men's program this season. "He has a great rapport with the student-athletes and the utmost respect of everyone associated with the program. It was time for us to take another step forward with the women's program, and Warren will provide the enthusiasm and motivation for that to happen."
Prior to coming to Louisville, Bye was an assistant coach with the Indiana University track program for three years. While at IU, he worked with legendary coach Sam Bell, who developed numerous Olympic athletes and is an inspiration to Bye.
"Warren is perceptive, cares about kids and is very knowledgeable about the sport," said Bell, who is now retired. "His mind is like a sponge when it comes to absorbing information on how to make improvements. He is an exceptional coaching talent who has a bright future in the sport of track and field."
In addition to his coaching duties at Indiana, Bye took over and supervised the day-to-day operations of the Indiana Track Club. Under his guidance, the club's membership increased from 70 to 250 members in just one season. This past summer, Bye instituted the Louisville Track and Field Club and is hoping for similar success.
"It is important to get as many people involved in and excited about the sport of track and field as possible," said Bye. "Working with the youth in this community is very important to me."
Bye, a former decathlete who specialized in the jumps and hurdles at Indiana, earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from IU in 1998.
Assisting Bye this year will be Manette Cheshareck and Houston Barber.
Cheshareck, who is in her third season with the Cardinals' track and field program, will be responsible for designing and supervising the training and workouts for the men and women throwers. In her first two years with the Cards, she coached three Conference USA champions in the shot put, weight throw and javelin.
Barber will volunteer as the women's cross country and distance coach after serving the past three years as head coach at South Oldham High School. He was named the 2000 Kentucky Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Overall Coach of the Year after leading his boys squad to the state championship.
"We have a very knowledgeable coaching staff, and I am looking forward to working with them and taking this team to the next level," said Bye.
The Cardinals open their 2001 cross country season on Friday at the Woodford County Trials in Versailles, Ky.
