TOLEDO, Ohio – Tito Medrano has been hired as an associate head coach for the University of Toledo cross country and women's track & field programs, director of cross country and track & field Andrea Grove-McDonough announced on Tuesday.
Medrano will lead the men's cross country squad and assist with the women's distance and mid-distance runners in the cross country and track & field programs.
"Throughout the interview process it became clear Tito was the perfect fit for our program," Grove-McDonough said. "His extensive experience as both an athlete, coach and recruiter at the highest levels was exactly what we were looking for. I have complete confidence in his vision to continue to elevate our men's cross country program, and I look forward to collaborating with him in all areas of women's track & field and cross country program. We are looking forward to having Tito and his wife joining us here in the Glass City."
"I am incredibly grateful to be joining the staff at Toledo," Medrano said. "The opportunity to be a part of a program and department that is on the rise is exciting, and I am looking forward to getting to work! I want to thank Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough and Tony Belt for this opportunity."
Medrano comes to Toledo from Syracuse University, where he has served the past two seasons as an assistant coach. He worked with both men's and women's distance athletes. During the fall, the men posted their highest finish since 2016, finishing 12th as a team at the NCAA cross country championships. Savannah Roark earned All-American honors finishing 23rd overall at the NCAA cross country championships. During the indoor season, Amanda Vestri finished sixth in the indoor NCAA 5k championships and set school records in the 3k, 5k, and ran the 16th-fastest 10k race in collegiate history. Paul O'Donnell also won the indoor ACC individual 5k title. In the last two years, three Syracuse men broke the four-minute barrier in the mile during the indoor season.
At Eastern Kentucky, Medrano served as the recruiting coordinator and coached both men and women's distance runners over the course of six years. During that time, the Medrano coached seven All-Americans, including the 2018 NCAA Steeplechase runner-up Jamaine Coleman. EKU won a total of 14 OVC titles, including the only triple crown EKU ever earned by securing team titles in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track in the 2017-18 season. EKU also finished in the top 20 of the NCAA cross country championships by securing 16th place.
Medrano has extensive experience in international recruiting and coaching, working with some of the best student-athletes in school history in their respective schools such as Ahmed Jaziri (NCAA champion in the 2022 steeplechase), Jamaine Coleman (the 2018 NCAA steeplechase 2nd), James Sugira (World Cross Country, NCAA Cross Country All-American), Jakob Abrahamsen (World Championships steeple, NCAA track All-American), Paul O'Donnell (ACC 5k champion) and many others.
Before Eastern Kentucky, Medrano spent 2015 at the University of Illinois. The Illini finished second at the Big Ten Cross Country Championship – its best finish in 26 years – and finished with its highest ranking since 1986, finishing at No. 19 in the USTFCCCA Coaches Poll. Dylan Lafond also earned All-America honors under his watch.
Medrano is an All-American cross country runner and earned All-America honors twice in the 10,000-meter run while at Syracuse University. He was also a two-time BIG EAST Champion in the 10k. He was part of the Orange cross country squad that ended a 35-year drought and qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships, along with winning its first Big East team title.
Medrano completed his undergraduate degree at Syracuse University with a bachelor's degree in Public Health with a minor in Nutrition. He continued his studies in a Masters of Sports Administration with a concentration in Intercollegiate Athletics from Western Kentucky University.
