July 31, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - UCF head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert announced on Tuesday the hiring of John Ridgway and Mason Cathey as assistant coaches with the Knights track and field and cross country program.
"The experience that John and Mason bring will be a huge benefit in achieving the goal of developing UCF into one of the top programs in the country," said Smith Gilbert, who took over the Knights' programs on July 1.
Specializing in throws and horizontal jumps, Ridgway comes to UCF after two years at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. During his first year, he guided four student-athletes to indoor all-conference honors, while jumps standout Rani Giladi earned the Southland Conference Outstanding Indoor Field Event Performer of the Meet award. Last season, Ridgway coached four NCAA Regional qualifiers and saw thrower Walt Williams receive Sun Belt Conference Outstanding Field Performer of the Meet recognition. Many of Ridgway's athletes broke school records and posted personal bests during his tenure. Four Warhawks also qualified for the USA Track and Field Junior Nationals. In his final outdoor season at ULM, he coached three athletes to conference titles and a freshman to the NCAA Regional finals in the triple jump.
Prior to ULM, Ridgway held a similar position at Oklahoma Baptist University, where he was responsible for recruiting and coaching the throwers. In 2005, the Bison won the NAIA Indoor Championship and finished as the NAIA National Outdoor Runner-up.
After being named Outstanding Walk-On at the University of Oklahoma, Ridgway transferred to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. At UNC, He was two-year letterwinner and earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in both 2000 and 2001.
"I am excited to have someone with John's recruiting expertise and work ethic join the UCF staff," said Smith Gilbert. "His experience as a standout athlete at UNC and coach at Louisiana-Monroe will aid us moving forward as we develop a respective throwing tradition at UCF."
A USATF Level 2 certified coach, Ridgway holds a bachelor's degree in economics from UNC.
Cathey, who specializes in coaching distance and middle distance runners, joins the Knights after serving as an assistant coach at Duke University during the past year. She helped guide the Blue Devils to a 10th place finish at the 2006 NCAA Cross Country Championships and a 12th place finish at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Eight of her student-athletes received All-America honors and two qualified for the 2007 Pan-American Games, while Shannon Rowbury won the NCAA title in the indoor mile in 2007.
In addition to her experience at Duke, Cathey completed an internship at USATF during the summer of 2006 and worked as track and field and cross country coach at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Fla., guiding the team a state championship in 2005. She was also a graduate assistant at the University of Florida, teaching sports and fitness classes.
A four-year member of the UF cross country and track and field teams, Cathey helped the Gators win the Southeastern Conference Track and Field Championship during her final three seasons. She also traveled to Europe with the USATF Junior National Team in 2001.
Cathey received a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science and a master's degree in applied physiology and kinesiology from UF. She is a USATF Level II certified coach.
"Having trained and worked with some of the top coaches in the country, Mason brings tremendous experience in middle distance and distance running to the UCF programs," said Smith Gilbert. "Her relationships with the Florida running community will also be a great asset as we move ahead with our recruiting."
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