Montana State University Men's Cross Country

Kennedy began his tenure with Montana State in 1980. He has served as the Director of Cross Country and Track and Field, for both men and women, since 1999. Kennedy has been at the helm of the development of one of the premier mens and womens track and cross country programs in the Mountain Region. In cross country, coach Kennedy has led the Bobcat women to four Big Sky Conference titles, including back-to-back championships in 1985 and 1986 and then again in 1994 and 1995. The 1995 squad finished with a 16th place ranking in the NCAA. His runners have earned runner-up status five separate times. Under his guidance, two Bobcat women have garnered the individual Big Sky Championship (Annette Hand, 1984 and 1985; Jennifer Cleary Bayliss, 1992). The Bobcat men won Big Sky team titles in 1993 and 2002 and on five separate occasions, the individual championship went to a Bobcat (Steve Bishop, 1990; Shannon Butler, 1989, 1990; Miguel Galeana, 1997; Casey Jermyn, 2002). Montana State has produced USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country teams for both the mens and womens cross country teams since 1996. Track and field has also reaped much success under Kennedys tutelage. He has won two womens indoor track and field titles (1983, 2001) and one outdoor title (2003). The Bobcat men took the outdoor conference trophy in 2005. Under the direction of Kennedy, Montana State has produced seven All-American student-athletes, earning the title 11 separate times. At the national level, 24 individuals have advanced to the NCAA championships and hes aided in the success of over 215 All-Big Sky Conference honorees. As a highly respected member of the collegiate coaching ranks, he was selected as an assistant coach for the United States Womens Indoor Track and Field team that competed in Budapest, Hungary, in 1989. He was also the regional coordinator for the US Olympic Development Committee for Middle Distance/Distance Events and assistant director of Olympic Development camps from 1978 until 1990. He possesses Level I instructor status for the USTAF Coaching Education Program. Kennedy is a 1968 graduate of Eastern Washington. He and his wife of over 40 years, Terry, have two grown children, Kimberly, of Oakland, Calif., and Patrick, who resides in Maple Falls, Wash.  Dale Kennedy Head Track and Field/Cross Country Coach Dale Kennedy began his tenure with Montana State in 1980. He has served as the Director of Cross Country and Track and Field, for both men and women, since 1999. Kennedy has been at the helm of the development of one of the premier mens and womens track and cross country programs in the Mountain Region. In cross country, coach Kennedy has led the Bobcat women to four Big Sky Conference titles, including back-to-back championships in 1985 and 1986 and then again in 1994 and 1995. The 1995 squad finished with a 16th place ranking in the NCAA. His runners have earned runner-up status five separate times. Under his guidance, two Bobcat women have garnered the individual Big Sky Championship (Annette Hand, 1984 and 1985; Jennifer Cleary Bayliss, 1992). The Bobcat men won Big Sky team titles in 1993 and 2002 and on five separate occasions, the individual championship went to a Bobcat (Steve Bishop, 1990; Shannon Butler, 1989, 1990; Miguel Galeana, 1997; Casey Jermyn, 2002). Montana State has produced USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country teams for both the mens and womens cross country teams since 1996. Track and field has also reaped much success under Kennedys tutelage. He has won two womens indoor track and field titles (1983, 2001) and one outdoor title (2003). The Bobcat men took the outdoor conference trophy in 2005. Under the direction of Kennedy, Montana State has produced seven All-American student-athletes, earning the title 11 separate times. At the national level, 24 individuals have advanced to the NCAA championships and hes aided in the success of over 215 All-Big Sky Conference honorees. As a highly respected member of the collegiate coaching ranks, he was selected as an assistant coach for the United States Womens Indoor Track and Field team that competed in Budapest, Hungary, in 1989. He was also the regional coordinator for the US Olympic Development Committee for Middle Distance/Distance Events and assistant director of Olympic Development camps from 1978 until 1990. He possesses Level I instructor status for the USTAF Coaching Education Program. Kennedy is a 1968 graduate of Eastern Washington. He and his wife of over 40 years, Terry, have two grown children, Kimberly, of Oakland, Calif., and Patrick, who resides in Maple Falls, Wash. 

Carignans tenure with the Bobcats began in 1977 when he was hired as an assistant track and field coach. Taking five years off, he returned to MSU in the fall of 1989 where he has been a volunteer assistant (1989-90) and part-time (1990-94) coach. He became a full-time throws coach in 1995 and has also helped with the pole vault and high jump. During his tenure, he has coached over 60 student-athletes to All-Big Sky Conference honors, including four All-Americans. Under his direction, the Bobcat throwers led the Big Sky in throws scoring from 2001-2009. Overall, 21 conference shot put titles have been garnered under his tutelage. In addition, several first-second-third place finishes have come in the javelin, shot put, hammer throw and weight throw with Carignan at the helm. In all, he's coached student-athletes to 53 individual titles at the Big Sky Championships. Carignan also serves as an official for the sport and has volunteered for the Big Sky State Games for over 25 years. He is married to Rosie Wallander. Mike Carignan Assistant Coach/Throwers Mike Carignans tenure with the Bobcats began in 1977 when he was hired as an assistant track and field coach. Taking five years off, he returned to MSU in the fall of 1989 where he has been a volunteer assistant (1989-90) and part-time (1990-94) coach. He became a full-time throws coach in 1995 and has also helped with the pole vault and high jump. During his tenure, he has coached over 60 student-athletes to All-Big Sky Conference honors, including four All-Americans. Under his direction, the Bobcat throwers led the Big Sky in throws scoring from 2001-2009. Overall, 21 conference shot put titles have been garnered under his tutelage. In addition, several first-second-third place finishes have come in the javelin, shot put, hammer throw and weight throw with Carignan at the helm. In all, he's coached student-athletes to 53 individual titles at the Big Sky Championships. Carignan also serves as an official for the sport and has volunteered for the Big Sky State Games for over 25 years. He is married to Rosie Wallander.

Eitel originally served as a member of the Montana State coaching staff from 1989-91  and has been full-time in his current tenure with the Bobcats since 1996. He has more than two decades of experience coaching jumps and multi events in the Big Sky Conference. While at MSU, Eitel has coached 20 student-athletes to over 40 individual conference titles. Over 50 of his student-athletes have earned All-Big Sky recognition. At a national level, he has coached five athletes who have earned eight different All-American honors, including two-time indoor pole vault national champion Ellie Rudy. Eitel was behind two benchmark pole vaulters in the Big Sky that cleared 18 feet for the men and 14 for the women, which were firsts for the Conference at that time. Currently, student-athletes under his tutelage hold 16 out of 20 indoor and outdoor school records in the jumps and multis. Eitel began his collegiate athletic career at Iowa State before finishing his eligibility with Montana State. As a Bobcat, he was the 1982 Big Sky Conference Champion in the pole vault and held the school record of 16-09.00 for eight years. He earned his degree from Montana in 1983. Tom is married to MSU Associate Athletic Director Camie Bechtold and has a son, Morgan, and daughter, Pipi. Tom Eitel originally served as a member of the Montana State coaching staff from 1989-91  and has been full-time in his current tenure with the Bobcats since 1996. He has more than two decades of experience coaching jumps and multi events in the Big Sky Conference. While at MSU, Eitel has coached 20 student-athletes to over 40 individual conference titles. Over 50 of his student-athletes have earned All-Big Sky recognition. At a national level, he has coached five athletes who have earned eight different All-American honors, including two-time indoor pole vault national champion Ellie Rudy.

Weese began his coaching tenure with Montana State in 2009 and moved from volunteer, to part-time, to full-time. For his first five years at Montana State, Weese assisted Dale Kennedy with the distance and hurdle/sprint event groups.   In his first year as the head distance coach, distance/mid-distance athletes won 10 of the possible 20 Big Sky Conference titles in the distance/mid-distance track events. Heather Demorest earned 2nd team (11th place) NCAA All-American Honors in the 3000 meter steeplechase. Cristian Soratos ran the fastest mile in the NCAA in 2015, finished 2nd in the Mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships, and 7th in the 1500 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Prior to Montana State, Weese was an assistant coach at Hartnell Community College in Salinas, Calif. (2007-09). Weese had a successful collegiate career as a Bobcat from 1998-2003. He was the captain of the 2002 Bobcat Cross Country squad that placed 11th at the NCAA National Championship. He was an All-American in the indoor 3,000 meter (twice), the steeplechase, and in cross country, earning him four total NCAA All-American awards. Weese was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014. After graduating from MSU, Weese continued his distance running career training with Team USA Minnesota in Minneapolis and Big Sur Distance Project in Monterey, CA. He competed in the 3,000 Meter steeplechase at the 2004, 2008, & 2012 US Olympic Track and Field Trials. He received his degree in Business in 2003 and earned a Masters in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia (CA) in 2010. He is also a United States Track and Field Level One certified coach. Weese resides in Bozeman with his wife, Sierra and their two sons, Rowan & Caz. The head cross country/distance track & field coach since the fall of 2014, Lyle Weese began his coaching tenure with Montana State in 2009 and moved from volunteer, to part-time, to full-time. For his first five years at Montana State, Weese assisted Dale Kennedy with the distance and hurdle/sprint event groups.