FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State cross country and track and field head coach Dr. Jason McCullough announced that he will resign from his position following the completion of the 2026 track and field season to pursue a new opportunity. McCullough will be moving into a full-time teaching role within the Health and Human Performance department at FHSU. He served as head coach of cross country for 21 years and head coach of track and field for the last nine years after serving as an assistant coach of track and field for 12 years parallel to his full tenure as head cross country coach.
"The cross country and track and field programs have been a huge part of my life for over two decades. I am thankful for every student-athlete who trusted the process, every coach who supported the mission, and every moment that helped shape this program. I cannot express in words the gratitude and joy I have from the relationships and shared experiences that will stay with me forever," said Dr. Jason McCullough.
McCullough began his post as head cross country coach in 2005. In his time leading the program, FHSU produced four individual MIAA champions, including the women's champion the last three years, and the men's team won the team title in 2012 when he was named the MIAA Coach of the Year. McCullough coached 73 All-MIAA performers and three All-America performers in cross country over the 21 seasons. Fort Hays State had one men's (2019) and one women's (2016) team qualify for the NCAA Championships, while FHSU sent an individual to the national meet nine times under his guidance. The FHSU women have been a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team 20 times and the FHSU men have received the distinction 17 times during his guidance, while individuals received USTFCCCA All-Academic honors 113 times.
In his time as head coach of track and field, which began during the 2017-18 year, McCullough has coached 87 All-America and 132 All-MIAA individual performances. Four individuals have been national champions in track and field under McCullough, which included Madison Wolf in the javelin in 2018, Brett Meyer in the outdoor 1,500 meters in 2019, Alexandra Hart in the indoor high jump in 2021, and then Ryan Stanley in the outdoor pole vault in 2021 and the indoor pole vault in 2022. FHSU has enjoyed 37 individual MIAA champions on McCullough's watch. The Tigers have had a total of 131 national qualifiers over his nine seasons, while there have been 117 USTFCCCA All-Region performances. FHSU track and field has enjoyed 79 individual USTFCCCA All-Academic awards and 16 team USTFCCCA All-Academic honors during McCullough's tenure. Up until taking over as head coach, McCullough was the assistant coach of the track and field program for 12 years running parallel to his time as the head cross country coach.
"I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside Jason. His steadfast commitment to our student-athletes, programs, and Fort Hays State University has left an enduring mark on our department and the countless individuals he has mentored throughout his career", said FHSU Director of Athletics Dr. Lisa Goddard McGuirk. "Jason is far more than a coach; he is an exceptional leader who has built a culture grounded in integrity, excellence, and genuine care. The foundation he established will continue to positively impact our cross country and track and field programs and student-athletes for years to come. His legacy will forever be woven into the fabric of Tiger Athletics."
A national search for the next head coach of both the FHSU cross country and track and field programs will begin immediately.