By: Hunter McKay
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State University's Board of Regents approved a three-year contract extension for Kennesaw State director of track and field and cross country
Cale McDaniel. Announced Wednesday, his contract now runs through the 2024 season.
"Coach McDaniel has given Owl Nation much to celebrate with the success of our track and field and cross country programs," said Director of Athletics
Milton Overton. "The results speak for themselves. He has helped create champions on the field, in the classroom, and in life. I look forward to seeing the heights our programs can reach."
Since McDaniel took over in 2018, the program has met remarkable milestones.
Daniel Haugh became KSU's first national champion in the Division I era in 2019 and finished 11th in the hammer throw at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The women's program won the 2021 ASUN Conference Indoor Championship with McDaniel taking home Coach of the Year honors. KSU has produced seven All-Americans in the five NCAA Track and Field Championships that have been contested since 2019.
The Owls reached the podium at the ASUN Championships 205 times with 65 earning gold medals. McDaniel's Owls have set 40 school records and 10 ASUN Championship records since the beginning of the 2019 indoor season. In addition, the KSU men's track and field team was awarded the ASUN Beam Award in 2020.
"My family and I are really excited to continue our work here in Kennesaw," McDaniel said. "I cannot thank the KSU administration enough for their belief in my vision and the continued support of our staff and student-athletes. It is really exciting to see where we are heading and the great people we have surrounded our program with. We will continue to push the envelope and set the bar incredibly high for this program. It is an awesome time to be an Owl."
Academics have also strengthened under McDaniel's leadership.
Lindsay Billings was named ASUN Indoor and Outdoor Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2021. Since 2019, the Owls have landed on the ASUN Cross Country and Track and Field All-Academic teams a total of 25 times. His teams have earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors five times and USTFCCCA Track and Field All-Academic individual honors 16 times. All four of the cross country and track and field programs have had recorded their best semesters in the classroom in the McDaniel era.
The KSU women's cross country team collected a third-place finish at the 2019 ASUN Championships. The Owls did not compete during the 2020-21 cross country season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keep up with Owls track and field teams by following KSU on Twitter at
@KSUOwlNation and
@KSUTrackFieldXC, on Instagram
@ksuowlstrackxc or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on
Facebook.
