ST. JOSEPH - Missouri Western State University vice president of intercollegiate athletics Dr. Josh Looney announced, Tuesday, that Cody Ingold has been promoted to head coach of the Griffon Cross Country and Track & Field teams after serving as the programs' assistant since 2017.
"Coach Ingold's promotion to head coach is well deserved. He has earned the right to lead this program into the future," Looney said. "Cody has been with us since day one, been incredibly loyal the department and University, grown his leadership within the program, and will continue the progression of our young team. He has taken over leadership of our distance programs over the past year and was instrumental in leading Phil Thompson to two-time All-America status in our inaugural year as a program. Cody, his wife Alice, and son Oliver, are excellent representatives of Griffon Athletics and I am excited to see the continued progression and accomplishments he will make leading our program."
Ingold's promotion becomes effective immediately as Yuriy Litvinski announced his resignation, Tuesday, to address personal and family matters. Litvinski was in his second year leading the upstart programs.
"I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as head coach at Missouri Western," Litvinski said. "This is a very difficult and personal decision, but I must step down from my position to devote time to personal concerns and family matters. Our student-athletes deserve an opportunity to have a quality experience that is becoming challenging for me to deliver. Thank you to the administration, fellow coaches and student-athletes for believing in me. I am proud to be a Griffon."
Under Litvinski's watch, the teams excelled in the classroom, posting record GPAs last year in addition to performing hundreds of hours of community service. Hanna Williams became the program's first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship automatic qualifier in the winter and qualified again for the outdoor championships. The teams made significant progress across the board under Litvinski's leadership.
"Coach Litvinski emptied the tank with his devotion to growing our young track and field program," Looney said. "The structure, organization and vision he brought to Missouri Western aided us in taking significant steps forward with classroom, community and competitive accolades. We wish Coach Litvinski all the best as he shifts his focus to personal matters and are thankful for his contributions to our athletic program."
Ingold came to Missouri Western in 2017 to be the assistant coach of the new programs and served as interim head coach during the summer of 2018. He previously served as the head men's cross country coach for three seasons and head men's track & field coach for two seasons at St. Gregory University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Under his guidance, the Cavaliers had 13 national qualifiers, three all-conference athletes, one All-American and one NAIA national champion.
"I am excited for the opportunity to lead these programs," Ingold said. "I knew Missouri Western was a special place the day I stepped on campus in 2017. I am thankful that Dr. Looney and the administration here believe in me and my vision to continue moving these teams forward. Alice, Oliver and I are pumped to continue to represent Griffon Athletics, Missouri Western and the St. Joseph community"
Prior to SGU, Ingold was an assistant coach at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa, Doane College in Crete, Nebraska and Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. He worked with 84 all-conference performers, 31 conference champions, six All-Americans, two national runners-up and two national champions.
Ingold graduated from Doane College in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education. As a member of the Tiger Track program he was a team captain, seven-time national qualifier in the multi-events and 4x400 relay and two-time NAIA All-American in the 4x400 relay. He was also honored with the 2009 NAIA Individual Champion of Character award.
He and his wife Alice live in St. Joseph with their son Oliver.
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