Ryan Bailey

I have been coaching track & field and cross country for over twenty eight years. After coaching for several years outside the collegiate venue, I coached in the NCAA at the Division-I level for over fifteen years and have been coaching a Division II program for six years. During that time I have augmented my experience by furthering my education in the coaching field. I graduated with Masters of Education in Physical Education, I have earned an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Level V Elite Endurance diploma as well as USA Track & Field Level III Endurance, Level II certifications in Endurance, Throws and Jumps as well as completing the USATF Instructor Training Certification (ITC). I have been an instructor for USA Track & Field Level 1 schools since 2011. I typically teach at these schools twice yearly. During my time as Head Coach at Mercer, members of my women's teams lowered the individual school record in 5K from 18:59 down to 17:13 in cross country and 17:08 on the track. Likewise, the best team average was improved by a full two minutes, from 20:41 (prior to my tenure) to 18:41. My men's teams at Mercer had similar success. Prior to my taking the helm, the 8K record stood at 25:45 and was improved to 24:57 during my time there. The 8K team average prior to my tenure was set at 27:13. My teams lowered that figure to an all-time best average of 25:45. During my time at The University of West Georgia so far, quite a few athletes have set national qualifying marks, we have had about a dozen individual conference champions, two Conference record holders, numerous All-Conference and All-Region athletes, and have set and broken literally dozens of school records. UWG has also had several All-conference athletes, and two athletes qualify for the XC National Invitational in 2020. UWG track & field athletes reached NCAA provisional qualifying marks in 2022. In addition to coaching, I am also a speaker/coaching educator, having served as an instructor for both USA Track & Field and Glazier Clinics. I also teach independently from time to time including being a featured speaker at the 2014 Portuguese Running Congress and as one of the speakers at the Mercer Endurance Classic which featured Dr. Joe I. Vigil and Coach Dan Green. In addition, I served as an adjunct instructor for Mercer University's College of Liberal Arts for several years.