In 2015, Randy Crist is beginning his 8th year at the helm of the men’s and women’s cross country programs at Asbury and his 32nd overall in coaching. During his time at Asbury he has helped 11 runners qualify for the NAIA National Championship Meet and has had one team-- the 2014 Women's squad--win the conference championship and advance to the National Meet.
Last season, the Eagles, led by Katy Falkenberg's Runner of the Year performance at the KIAC meet, won the Conference Championship on the women's side of things and took fourth place on the men's side. Falkenberg's first-place finish was followed with two more top-10 finishes from Justine Vonderheide (5th) and Devon Zweifel (9th) to lead the Eagles past Point Park (Pa.) for the crown.
In 2013 Crist and the Eagles took second and third places, respectively, at the women's and men's conference meets.
In 2012 Crist guided both of his teams to second place finishes at the KIAC tournament. The women finished just two points behind first place finished Brescia. The Eagles sent a program-best four runners to the NAIA Championships coming off their best collective finish at the KIAC since coach Crist joined the programs in 2008.
In 2011 Crist guided the women to a second place finish in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC), finishing just eight points behind winner Brescia University. In 2010 the women finished third in the conference meet. Crist led Sarah Moe to back-to-back appearances at the NAIA race in 2011 as Devon Gruver also qualified in 2011 after a second place finish in the KIAC meet.
The men were plagued with injuries during the 2011 season and still managed to finish a respectable fifth in the KIAC meet. In 2010 the Eagles finished third in the conference as Jared Brewster qualified for his second straight NAIA National Meet after finishing fourth in the KIAC race.
Prior to Asbury Crist coached at Anderson County High School from 1980-1995 and at West Jessamine High School from 2000-2010. He has coached three State Champions in cross country and 22 individual State Champions in track & field, including five in the mile.
Crist was named 1983 Kentucky Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year and earned the Scholastic Coach National High School Coaching Award in 1989. He has been named Regional Coach of the Year 21 times in either cross country or track & field and was inducted into the Kentucky Track & Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1998.
Along with his wife Sarahlynn he has four children and currently resides in Wilmore.
