WICHITA -- Wichita State University announced Kirk Hunter as the new Head Cross Country and Assistant Track Coach. Hunter spent the last 10 years at Butler County Community College and brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to the Shockers.

"I am really excited about Kirk Hunter joining our staff as our new Head Cross Country and Assistant Track Coach in charge of our distance runners," Steve Rainbolt, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country said. "Kirk has been a terrific coach and recruiter at BCCC and now he can bring those abilities to WSU. I am confident that he will continue growing the strong tradition of distance running excellence at Wichita State University."

"I am very excited and grateful to Coach Rainbolt and his staff at extending me the opportunity to become part of the WSU Cross Country/Track and Field family," Hunter said. "I have watched over the years that Coach Rainbolt has been at Wichita State and have been well aware of the continuing success and tradition that he and his staff have built. Wichita State track and field, as well as their cross country teams, are championship quality teams which is exciting to any coach. Our men's and women's teams look to be very strong contenders for this years Missouri Valley Conference titles, all thanks to the great job that Coach Marc Burns did during his time here. Hopefully we can continue what Coach Burns and Coach Hasenbank started at WSU, winning championships."

Hunter spent the last 10 years as Head Cross Country and Track Coach at Butler County Community College. Previously he built the Cross Country program at Colby County Community College, where he later also became Athletics Director. Hunter coached in Colby from 1988 to 2000. He is a 12-time Women's Region VI Cross Country Coach of the Year and two-time Men's Region VI Cross Country Coach of the Year.

During the past six seasons the Grizzlies women's cross country team has won five Region VI titles while also being named the 2002 NJCAA team champions. The men's team won the Region VI title in 2002, 2003 and 2005 while placing second in 2000, 2001 and 2004.

The Butler women's track & field team won the Jayhawk West Conference title this past season and finished second in the region. The men were third overall in the region and runners-up in the conference standings.

During the 2009 cross country season, Hunter guided current Shocker Jackson Toroitich to a win on the men's side with Butler runner Patrober Murindat taking home the individual title on the women's side at the Region VI meet. Toroitich went on to place fifth in the NJCAA Championships with the men's team coming in fifth overall out of 35 schools.

Hunter is a three-time Women's Indoor Region VI Coach of the Year as well as being named the 2005 Women's Outdoor Region VI and NJCAA Women's Outdoor Coach of the Year.

Individual performers have also shined under Hunter. One of his former athletes, Sara Wells, placed seventh at the 2004 Olympic Trials marathon championships. Diane Nukuri set three NJCAA records (5000m, 3000m, and Half Marathon) and was a two-time NJCAA Indoor Women's Athlete of the Year. Hunter has also coached a considerable number of NJCAA All-Americans.

In 1999, Hunter led the Colby County Community College women's distance program to a national championship and two national second place finishes. His women's team at Butler has won the last eight Region VI championships and captured a national title in 2002. The men have been perennial national challengers, as well, missing the 2003 title by one point.

In addition to his extensive coaching background, Hunter served as the NJCAA Division I Cross Country Coaches Association President from 2000 to 2005 then served as Vice President through 2008. He also brings extensive experience in the classroom, having taught Physical Education at Butler and Business at Colby.

Hunter earned his undergraduate degree in Business Management from Fort Hays State and his Master's in Business Education from the same institution.