Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White and Head Coach and Director of Track & Field Duane Ross announced Saturday the appointment of Justin Duncan to lead UT’s combined men’s and women’s cross country and distance programs.
An assistant coach at Oklahoma State since 2019, Duncan has helped the Cowboy and Cowgirl track & field and cross country teams maintain their position as one of the nation’s premier distance programs.
“First and foremost, I want to thank Coach Duane Ross, Danny White and the entire administration for this opportunity,” Duncan said. “I recognize the tremendous resources the Tennessee athletics department is pouring into the track & field and cross country program. I believe from top to bottom we can be one of the best programs in the NCAA. I am excited to get to Knoxville and get started.”
Over the past five seasons, Duncan has helped guide the Cowboys to four cross country Big 12 titles and the Cowgirls to three league championships on the grass. The crowning achievement for the men’s team came last fall as the Cowboys won the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Cross Country Championships at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The Cowboys earned 49 points, the lowest winning score since 2005 (Wisconsin, 37), to secure the program’s first national title since 2012. Denis Kipngetich, Brian Musau and Fouad Messaoudi were the first three Cowboys across the line with all three placing in the top 10.
“We are thrilled to welcome Justin and his family to Rocky Top,” White said. “Justin made significant contributions to Oklahoma State’s championship culture and brings a wealth of experience in working with elite distance runners, making him an ideal fit for our cross country program here at Tennessee.”
In addition to seven combined conference titles in cross country, Duncan was instrumental in the Cowgirls winning their first indoor Big 12 crown in 2023.
During his time in Stillwater, he mentored three individual national champions and coached OSU’s men’s Distance Medley Relay squad to a national title in 2023.
Duncan has seen his athletes garner 100 All-America accolades and win 39 combined Big 12 individual titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor track. His distance athletes have also captured seven DMR conference titles – four men’s and three women’s.
“Coach Duncan will be a phenomenal addition to our staff,” said Ross. “His championship pedigree and accolades speak for themselves, and his eagerness to develop and lead our student-athletes stood out in the interview process. We look forward to welcoming Justin and his family to Knoxville.”
Prior to his time at Oklahoma State, Duncan served as a graduate assistant at the University of Toronto where he studied exercise physiology.
An outstanding runner in his own right, Duncan was a nine-time All-C-USA selection in his career at Tulsa. He advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships of the 1,500 meters twice, including a trip to the semifinals in 2009.
He finished his career with the school record in the 4×1,600-meter relay and was also in the top four of seven other categories, including the second-best mark in the indoor 800 and the outdoor 1,500.
Duncan graduated from Tulsa in May of 2011 with a degree in exercise sport science. He and his wife, Kristen, have three children – Cullen, Jude and Evander.
