McMurry University Women's Track

McMurry University Athletics announced the hiring of Cody Knight as its head track & field coach, for men and women, in July 2018. Knight brought seven years of NCAA Division I experience to the War Hawks’ prominent NCAA III program. He's now entering his fifth season in 2023. Knight is just the third head coach since the sport was reintroduced to the campus in 1999. Knight has led the War Hawks to seven American Southwest Conference championships since his hire - the men's program in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 and the women's program in 2021, 2022, and 2023. At the national level, McMurry has had 23 indoor and outdoor qualifiers under Knight's direction.  McMurry has also had three athletes set ASC meet records, including Kelby Tidwell (women's heptathlon), Shelby McWilliams (3000 steeplechase), Savannah Freeman (women's javelin) and Jayden Sloan (men's 400). Several school records in indoor and outdoor competition have been set and re-set in his tenure.   On staff at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi from 2012-18, he began as a volunteer coach in 2012 and was hired on staff later that same year. Knight served as the Islanders’ interim head coach in 2017 and was then elevated to the program’s 1st Assistant position. During his long tenure, Knight has a wide variety of specialty experience, including sprints, middle distance, distance and jumps. He also has extensive background in meet management, working with alumni and recruiting.   While at TAMUCC, Knight-coached athletes produced some impressive numbers. Among those accomplishments were: 14 Texas A&M-CC and two Missouri Valley College school records; a total of 136 Islanders recorded top-10 performers; 7 Southland Conference event champions were crowned (including one Southland Conference “Freshman of the Year”); 10 NCAA I West Region championship qualifiers, and; 23 All-Southland Conference performers.   Knight began his coaching career as an assistant for both cross country and track & field at his alma mater, Missouri Valley College (2007-11).   Knight holds United States Track & field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) certifications in track & field coaching, strength and conditioning, and meet management. He holds USA Track & Field Level 1 Coaching Certification, as well as Officials Certification.   “I am honored for the opportunity to coach and lead McMurry’s track & field program,” Knight said. “This is a program that has had a lot of success in the conference and on the national level, as well. Our goals will be to not only build on such tradition, but to also continue developing skills that our scholar-athletes will carry with them as they become champions for life.”   Knight is a native of Lebanon, Missouri. Knight graduated from Missouri Valley College in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in health and fitness/sports management. He and his wife Stephanie have two children, Kayson and Kynlee. WATCH: "A Walk With The War Hawks" - Cody Knight

Parris longtime assistant coach for the McM track and field programs to head coach on June 5, 2014. The 2016 season saw the McM teams do well in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) championships. Indoors, the McM men were 13th and the women sixth.  Outdoors, the women placed third and the men fifth. Women's senior thrower LaNissa Burns earned a pair of gold medals in the hammer and discus, also placing second in the shot. In his first season at the McM helm, the 2015 squads produced a memorable season. In the NCCAA championships, the women were fifth indoor and thrid outdoor. The men's squad was fifth and ninth indoor and outdoor, respectively, at the NCCAA evnts. Women's hurdler Tiana Alexander won the NCCAA titles in both the 55-meter hurdles (indoor) and 100-meter hurdles (outdoor), also qualifying for the USA Indoor National Championships. Officially, Parris has had an association with the McMurry program dating back to 1995 when he began as a studentbut in reality, it goes back much further than that.   When it comes to taking over the reins as the War Hawks head track and field coach, the French might very well say of Parris: (translation: This is your destiny).   Long before enrolling at McMurry, Parris roots were well-entrenched. Both of his parents attended and graduated from McMurry and, as time passed, he regularly made the campus his childhood playground (as he puts it: I was the little kid jumping around on the landing pads at the high jump and pole vault pits). His mother Dr. Pug Parris has taught at McMurry for 36 years, currently serving as McMs Director of Inter-Disciplinary Studies and the former chair of the kinesiology department. His father Rickey was a four-time NAIA national champion in the pole vault for the track team.   As for his own athletic career, Brad Parris credentials are impeccable.  He earned bragging rights at the family dinner table by winning five NCAA Division III national pole vault championships, besting his Dad by one, with three straight indoor titles from 1999-2001 and two outdoor championships in 1999 and 2000 He still holds McMs pole vault records for both indoors (17 5 ¾) and outdoors (17 9 ¼) and ranks No. 4 outdoors and No. 6 indoors on the NCAA Division III all-time list.   In addition, he was named the regional athlete of the year in 1999, he was recognized as the top performer at the national indoor meet in 2000, and he was named the American Southwest Conference Male Athlete of the Year in 2000.   (Parris only competed for three seasons, as McMurry did not sponsor track and field as a sport during his first year in college).   Parris also set the bar high no pun intended in the classroom, earning three academic all-American honors and graduating with a 4.0 grade point average from McMurry. He was on the Deans List every semester of his collegiate career.   Upon graduating from McM, Parris began working as an assistant coach with the track program, while also concurrently teaching for the Anson ISD (2001-03) and Merkel ISD (2003-04). In 2004, Parris was hired as a full-time assistant coach for McMurrys track and field teams and held that position until his elevation to head coach to replace legendary Barbara Crousen (who retired in May of 2014 after 16 seasons at the McM helm).   As Crousens right-hand man for McMurrys storied program, Parris has coached a total of three national champions (two pole vaulters and one high jumper), 16 vertical jumps All-Americans and 21 vertical jumps academic all-conference selections during his tenure. His work was an integral part of McMurrys NCAA III mens outdoor national championship teams of 2008 and 2012still the only NCAA team titles in school history.   Parris earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Multidisciplinary Studies, with a concentration in Biology, from McMurry (2001). He earned his masters degree in Sports Management from Hardin-Simmons University (2011). Parris was a 1995 graduate of Abilene High School.   Parris is married (Ann) and is the father of twin boys Braxton and Brody. The family resides in Abilene.    

Cooper officially joined the McMurry University track and field staff in 2015-16 and took over the cross country teams in the fall of 2016. However, Cooper has a long association with the university prior to that.   Cooper, a native of Fredericksburg, Texas, competed as a sprinter for McMurry for 2 ½ seasons (2010-12), before a torn hamstring ended his career. Prior to his injury, Cooper had earned a pair of American Southwest Conference championships and was ranked #32 in the 200 meters. He also was a part of McMs 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams which earned berths at the NCAA III championships.   After realizing he could no longer compete, athletically, Cooper became a strength trainer and assisted in coaching sprinters for his team. In 2013-14, Cooper was a strength trainer for McMurrys track, swimming and womens basketball teams. He also continued to volunteer as a sprinter coach for McMurrys track squad.   As a high school athlete, Cooper played football at Fredericksburg High School and also had a stellar track career. He was a three-time district champion in the 400 meters, and a four-time district champ with the FHS 4x400 relay. The 4x400 quartet was the regional champions in 2009 and placed third at the UIL state championships. Cooper earned his bachelor of science degree from McMurry in May of 2014. He was a mathematics (grades 8-12) major, with a minor in curriculum and instruction, and administration of coaching. In addition to his athletics and coaching, Cooper was also Chi Omicron social club, an orientation leader and the founder/president of the McMurry Bass Club.  He was a three-term member of McMurrys Deans List.      

Biography A vital component of McMurry University Track and Field's sustained dominance, Michael McCarroll serves as a Volunteer Assistant Coach specializing in the Pole Vault and Combined Events. Since joining the staff in his current role in July 2022, McCarroll has helped the McMurry coaching staff cultivate a culture of competitive consistency that has kept the War Hawks at the pinnacle of conference competition. His impact on the program's success is undeniable, having coached on seven Men's conference championship teams (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026) and five Women's conference championship teams (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2026). During his coaching tenure, McCarroll has contributed to 10 Coaching Staff of the Year awards between men’s and women’s track. McCarroll has coached eight conference pole vault champions and 49 All-Conference athletes. Nationally, he has produced five NCAA Division III qualifiers and two All-Americans. Coaching Experience Before his current role, McCarroll coached at Abilene High School in 2021. He began as a McMurry student assistant from 2018 to 2020 and coached youth pole vaulters in his free time. Athletic Career As an athlete at McMurry, McCarroll was a key competitor, earning conference Runner-Up honors in pole vault in 2017 and helping secure the 2017 team conference title. Education B.A., History 7-12 - McMurry University (2020) Personal Originally from Joshua, Texas, McCarroll lives locally with his wife, Baylee, and daughter, Georgia. They attend Beltway Park Church. Outside of athletics, he enjoys spending time with his family.

Parris longtime assistant coach for the McM track and field programs to head coach on June 5, 2014. The 2016 season saw the McM teams do well in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) championships. Indoors, the McM men were 13th and the women sixth.  Outdoors, the women placed third and the men fifth. Women's senior thrower LaNissa Burns earned a pair of gold medals in the hammer and discus, also placing second in the shot. In his first season at the McM helm, the 2015 squads produced a memorable season. In the NCCAA championships, the women were fifth indoor and thrid outdoor. The men's squad was fifth and ninth indoor and outdoor, respectively, at the NCCAA evnts. Women's hurdler Tiana Alexander won the NCCAA titles in both the 55-meter hurdles (indoor) and 100-meter hurdles (outdoor), also qualifying for the USA Indoor National Championships. Officially, Parris has had an association with the McMurry program dating back to 1995 when he began as a studentbut in reality, it goes back much further than that.   When it comes to taking over the reins as the War Hawks head track and field coach, the French might very well say of Parris: (translation: This is your destiny).   Long before enrolling at McMurry, Parris roots were well-entrenched. Both of his parents attended and graduated from McMurry and, as time passed, he regularly made the campus his childhood playground (as he puts it: I was the little kid jumping around on the landing pads at the high jump and pole vault pits). His mother Dr. Pug Parris has taught at McMurry for 36 years, currently serving as McMs Director of Inter-Disciplinary Studies and the former chair of the kinesiology department. His father Rickey was a four-time NAIA national champion in the pole vault for the track team.   As for his own athletic career, Brad Parris credentials are impeccable.  He earned bragging rights at the family dinner table by winning five NCAA Division III national pole vault championships, besting his Dad by one, with three straight indoor titles from 1999-2001 and two outdoor championships in 1999 and 2000 He still holds McMs pole vault records for both indoors (17 5 ¾) and outdoors (17 9 ¼) and ranks No. 4 outdoors and No. 6 indoors on the NCAA Division III all-time list.   In addition, he was named the regional athlete of the year in 1999, he was recognized as the top performer at the national indoor meet in 2000, and he was named the American Southwest Conference Male Athlete of the Year in 2000.   (Parris only competed for three seasons, as McMurry did not sponsor track and field as a sport during his first year in college).   Parris also set the bar high no pun intended in the classroom, earning three academic all-American honors and graduating with a 4.0 grade point average from McMurry. He was on the Deans List every semester of his collegiate career.   Upon graduating from McM, Parris began working as an assistant coach with the track program, while also concurrently teaching for the Anson ISD (2001-03) and Merkel ISD (2003-04). In 2004, Parris was hired as a full-time assistant coach for McMurrys track and field teams and held that position until his elevation to head coach to replace legendary Barbara Crousen (who retired in May of 2014 after 16 seasons at the McM helm).   As Crousens right-hand man for McMurrys storied program, Parris has coached a total of three national champions (two pole vaulters and one high jumper), 16 vertical jumps All-Americans and 21 vertical jumps academic all-conference selections during his tenure. His work was an integral part of McMurrys NCAA III mens outdoor national championship teams of 2008 and 2012still the only NCAA team titles in school history.   Parris earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Multidisciplinary Studies, with a concentration in Biology, from McMurry (2001). He earned his masters degree in Sports Management from Hardin-Simmons University (2011). Parris was a 1995 graduate of Abilene High School.   Parris is married (Ann) and is the father of twin boys Braxton and Brody. The family resides in Abilene.