Payne steps down as cross country coach
Press Release
May 02, 2007
Susan Payne, who started East Central University’s cross country program from scratch 13 years ago, has stepped down from that head coaching post to start up an undergraduate sports management program at Rogers State University in Claremore.
She will be replaced by two-year assistant coach Steve Sawyer.
Payne, who also served as chairman of ECU’s kinesiology department for several years, will wrap up a 20-year plus stay at ECU at the end of the 2007 spring term.
The cross country program’s success, under Payne’s tutelage, was almost immediate as she has guided Tiger teams or individuals to nationals 11 out of 13 years, including an 11th place finish by the men’s team at the NCAA Division II championships in 2005.