Josh Schepis
Head Cross Country Coach
Phone #: 316-942-4291, ext. 2441
E-mail: SchepisJ@newmanu.edu
Office #: OSH215
Coach Schepis was the coach for the inaugural season for both men and women. The team began competition in the 2001-02 school year.

Coach Schepis has won championships at all levels of running. As a youth, he competed in Junior Olympics. He won two silvers, a bronze, and two fourth place medals at nation meets. In high school he helped lead his team to a league championship, as well as competing in the state meet in 3 events. Coach Schepis then went on to Wichita State University (WSU). There he was on a conference Championship team and trained with NCAA national champions, as well as an Olympian. The 1995 season earned Schepis Conference honors. Cross-Country, steeplechase, and 1500 meters were his primary events.

With this running history and a high school personal record of 15:49.2 Coach Schepis has had tremendous success coaching thus far. In his first six years at Newman there has been 20 All-Conference performers. In 2004 the men won the school's first ever Conference title and then repeated that feat in 2006. While at Maize High School the cross country teams won nine Regional Championships and were in the top three places at State three times.

In the 2004 cross country season Coach Schepis was named MCAC Conference coach of the year, as well as Kansas State 6A High School Coach of the year!

With a B.A. in Education from WSU Coach Schepis teaches and coaches Basketball at Brooks Middle School. As a basketball official he works junior college and small college games. As a baseball umpire he works about 35 D-I games a year. Coach Schepis is supported at home by his wife Sandra and five children Andrew, Bradley, Tessa, Austin, and Madison.

Ron Russell
Assistant Cross Country Coach
Phone #: 316-942-4291, ext. 2441
E-mail: RussellR@newmanu.edu
Office #:
Ron Russell was new to the Newman Cross Country coaching staff last season. He brought a wealth of coaching experience to the team.

Russell spent 14 years at Wichita South High School. There he took over a team with five total athletes and built it into a perennial contender. His teams brought home one of South High’s only City League Championships, two regional championships and multiple All-City and All-Region performers.

His friendship and camaraderie with area cross country coaches should be a boon to recruiting in the area.

Russell graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Journalism in 1986 and from Wichita State University with a secondary education degree in 1991. He’s married with two daughters.