Boyer Tabbed as Head Track, Cross Country Coach

Kansas City, MO – Avila University announced on Tuesday that Anthony Boyer has been hired as the new head men's and women's track and field and cross country coach.

Boyer, a Kansas City, Mo., native, comes to Avila after spending one year as the assistant track and field/cross country coach at William Woods University in Fulton, Mo.

Boyer ran collegiately at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he set the school record in the 400-meter hurdles and the 110-meter hurdles. He was named the Summit League Co-Athlete of the year for track and field in 2010, and also earned the indoor and outdoor Track Championship MVP that same year. He was a three-time NCAA regional qualifier in his four years at UMKC, and was also a seven-time Summit League Conference Champion.

The Avila track and field program is set to begin in the Fall of 2014, so Boyer will be tasked with starting a brand new program for Avila. Boyer said that he is very excited for the opportunity.

"This opportunity is truly a dream come true for me," said Boyer. "To be able to start a program and put my stamp on it in my home town of Kansas City is just something that you never even think is possible. I just cannot wait to get started."

Along with his duties as head track and field coach, Boyer will also be taking over as head coach of the men's and women's cross country programs. Former head cross country coach Dave Denny chose to step down from his head coaching role earlier this summer to spend more time with his family, but has agreed to stay at Avila as an assistant coach for both the cross country and track programs.

Denny said that he is excited for Boyer, and that he will do anything he can to help him build and grow the track program.

"Coach Boyer is young, but already has a great deal of experience with his outstanding career in high school and college, and his coaching at an NAIA college," said Denny. "His enthusiasm and energy will be great for our recruiting and in building our team here at Avila. I am excited to work with him and share my experience of nearly 40 years of coaching at every level."

Boyer said that he is excited that Coach Denny decided to stay on as an assistant, and that he thinks they will work great together.

"To be able to come in and have a coach with nearly 40 years of experience by my side helping me along the way is a true blessing," he said. "With his reputation in this area and my knowledge of the athletes in Kansas City, I think we should be able to build something pretty special at Avila."