Karen Dennis Receives Contract Extension – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
July 6, 2011
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Fresh off a memorable 2011 campaign, Ohio State wasted no time in rewarding Karen Dennis with a new 3-year contract extension to remain head coach of the Buckeyes women’s track and field and cross country programs.
Dennis led the Buckeyes to their finest season in program history, capturing their first Big Ten championship in 2011 by sweeping both indoor and outdoor titles. She was named Big Ten and USTFCCCA Great Lakes Lakes coach of the year during both the indoor and outdoor campaigns for her outstanding efforts.
“When I became the women’s head coach 5 years ago I wanted to move our program into a winning position,” Dennis said. “I believe together with my hard working coaches (Rosalind Joseph, Chris Neal, Rita Somerlot, Joel Brown and Leon Pullen) we’ve accomplished that initial goal. My contract extension allows us to refocus and aim to remain a championship caliber program.
“I’m appreciative to Gene Smith for the opportunity to stay at the helm of the women’s track and field program at this great institution. Now we will continue to recruit talented student-athletes to further develop our program. I’m also looking forward in more actively engaging our alumnae to assist in our future endeavors.”
This season Dennis and her staff helped qualify seven Buckeyes to NCAA championship competition, with three earning All-America honors. Junior sprinter/hurdler Christina Manning was the highest finisher for the Buckeyes, earning national runner-up honors in the 100m hurdles at the outdoor championships. Teammate Letecia Wright finished fifth, giving the Buckeyes two top-5 finishers in the event for a total of 12 points — OSU’s highest point total since 2000.
In Big Ten championship competition, Dennis’ Buckeyes won a total of eight titles (two indoor and six outdoor). And in May, Ohio State put on a show for the ages at the outdoor championships, earning six titles and a total of 100 points on the final day of competition to help capture its second consecutive crown. They pulled off a dominating 1-2-3 finish in the 100m final and a 1-2 finish in the 100m hurdles.
