ABILENE, TX – McMurry University has announced the hiring of Ryun Anderson as the new head coach of the men's and women's cross country programs. Anderson arrives in Abilene with a strong coaching background spanning the high school, Division II, and Division I levels, bringing fresh developmental expertise and strategic planning to the university's running programs.

"I'm thrilled to welcome Ryun to the McMurry family and excited for him to lead the men's and women's cross-country program," said Athletic Director Susan Decker. "Ryun's passion for cross-country and commitment to developing student-athletes is an excellent fit for our program. I look forward to the growth that Ryun will bring to both programs."

Anderson most recently served as the head cross-country coach and assistant track and field coach at Westminster College during the 2025-2026 academic year. Under his leadership, the Westminster women's team finished fourth at the SLIAC Championships, the program's highest finish since 2017. He was also instrumental in coaching Sadie Brandt to first-team all-conference honors, making her the first Westminster athlete to earn that distinction since 2018.

Before Westminster, Anderson gained valuable experience as an interim assistant coach for track and field at Winthrop University in 2025, where he coached multiple conference scorers and helped the women's cross country team earn the highest team GPA in the athletic department. During the 2023-2024 seasons, he worked as a graduate assistant for cross country and track and field at East Stroudsburg University. While there, he helped guide the women's team to a Division II National Championship appearance—only the second in program history—and a third-place finish at the PSAC Championships, tying the program's all-time best result. His efforts also helped the East Stroudsburg men secure a second-place conference finish in 2024.

Anderson began his coaching career at the high school level, serving as head coach at Hammond High School from 2021 to 2023 and as a volunteer assistant at Paint Branch High School before that. As a student-athlete, Anderson spent four years competing for the cross country and track club team at the University of Maryland - College Park, racing at various NCAA meets along the East Coast.

Academically, Anderson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Maryland - College Park and a Master's in Secondary Teaching from the University of Maryland - Global Campus. He is currently pursuing an additional Master's degree in Sports Management from East Stroudsburg University.