Women's Track & Field Coaches
COACH DEREK RIEDEL
Derek Riedel joined the Incarnate Word athletic staff in October of 2005 as the head coach for both the cross country teams in the fall, and the track and field squads in the spring.
Additionally, he will be an instructor in the Incarnate Word Department of Communications. Immediately prior to joining the Cardinals staff, he taught communications courses at San Antonio’s Northwest Vista College.
And with his arrival at UIW, the lists of participating track and field athletes has increased to the point that in the spring of 2008 the Cardinals will send nearly 50 athletes into action on and around the track.
His long-range plan initially was a continued growth of the programs. With that rapidly occurring, his plan now has moved on to training athletes to represent the University at NCAA championships levels.
Before moving to San Antonio, he worked two years as the assistant cross country and track coach at McMurry. During that time he earned his USATF Level 1 certification. He also has taught speech communications classes at Cisco Junior College.
During the summer of 2006 he earned his USATF Level II Certification in endurance events. Then, in 2007, he completed certification at Level II for sprints, hurdles and relays. In the summer of 2008 he will complete his Level III certification in endurance.
A native of Castroville and a graduate of Medina Valley High School, Derek ran four years of cross country and two years of track at McMurry University in Texas. As a senior in 2002 he won the Texas Division III Cross Country Championship after being third in 2001. His personal best for 8K came right here in San Antonio when he ran a 26:59 over a course in Olmos Park. Twice in cross country, he competed in the Division III South Regional Meet and finished 31st in 2001 and 47th in 2002. In his senior year of 2002, on the outside track, Riedel finished among the leaders in two events in the American Southwest Conference championships. He ran a 35:17.75 in the 10,000 for second place, and in the 5,000 his 17:37.97 was fourth. And the coach did not cease his personal running with graduation. In February of 2006 he ran the Freescale Marathon in Austin and turned in a personal best of 2:45. Not only did that time put him 83rd among more than 4,700 finishers, but it qualified him for the Boston Marathon. Derek holds a bachelor’s degree in English from McMurry and a master’s degree in communications from Abilene Christian University. Three years he was academic all-conference while at McMurry. Derek Riedel joined the Incarnate Word athletic staff in October of 2005 as the head coach for both the cross country teams in the fall, and the track and field squads in the spring. Additionally, he will be an instructor in the Incarnate Word Department of Communications. Immediately prior to joining the Cardinals staff, he taught communications courses at San Antonio’s Northwest Vista College. And with his arrival at UIW, the lists of participating track and field athletes has doubled in just one year’s time. His immediate plan includes a continued growth of the programs, and his intermediate plans now include training athletes to represent the University at the NCAA championships levels. Before moving to San Antonio, he worked two years as the assistant cross country and track coach at McMurry. During that time he earned his USATF Level 1 certification. He also has taught speech communications classes at Cisco Junior College. A native of Castroville and a graduate of Medina Valley High School, Derek ran four years of cross country and two years of track at McMurry University in Texas. As a senior in 2002 he won the Texas Division III Cross Country Championship after being third in 2001. His personal best for 8K came right here in San Antonio when he ran a 26:59 over a course in Olmos Park. Twice in cross country, he competed in the Division III South Regional Meet and finished 31st in 2001 and 47th in 2002. In his senior year of 2002, on the outside track, Riedel finished among the leaders in two events in the American Southwest Conference championships. He ran a 35:17.75 in the 10,000 for second place, and in the 5,000 his 17:37.97 was fourth. And the coach did not cease his personal running with graduation. In February of 2006 he ran the Freescale Marathon in Austin and turned in a personal best of 2:45. Not only did that time put him 83rd among more than 4,700 finishers, but it qualified him for the Boston Marathon. Derek holds a bachelor’s degree in English from McMurry and a master’s degree in communications from Abilene Christian University. Three years he was academic all-conference while at McMurry
CANDACE MCKINLEY
GRADUATE ASSISTANT
Candace McKinley is from San Antonio, she graduated from O’Connor High School, she went to the University of Dayton and now she is back home as the graduate assistant for the Incarnate Word track and field team.
Her area of concentration for the Cardinals will be with the speed athletes, the sprinters primarily.
While earning her degree in general studies with minors in psychology and business administration at Dayton, she was highly successful as a track and field athlete. She was team captain twice, and back in 2004 was named rookie of the year for her team.
In both 2004 and 2005 she won the Atlantic 10 title in the heptathlon.
All four years at Dayton she was a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC), and for two years was the Dayton SAAC representative to the Atlantic 10 SAAC.
This past spring she worked as an assistant coach at a Dayton area high school and two athletes advanced to the state meet in the long jump.
At UIW she will be working for a master’s degree in sports management.
