Pete Julian new WSU distance coach...

PULLMAN -- Pete Julian (left/photo courtesy Metropolitan State Sports Information), a highly successful collegiate coach and professional athlete and coach, has joined the Washington State University track and field/cross country coaching staff, Cougar Track & Field Head Coach Rick Sloan announced Wednesday. Julian will coach the men and women middle distance, distance and cross country runners at WSU, replacing Jason Drake who accepted a position at the University of Washington.

"I feel very excited and fortunate that we have attracted someone of the quality of Pete Julian to come and direct our distance running and cross country program at Washington State," Sloan said. "Pete brings a great deal of experience and success as a competitor and as a coach. He has done great things at Metro State with very limited resources, including not having a track, by finding local athletes in the Denver area and developing them into competitors. Pete has a thorough understanding of cutting edge technology in training for the distance and middle distance events. He worked on the Nike Oregon Project with Alberto Salazar. Pete was highly recommended by some of the most recognized distance authorities in the country. The people I spoke with about Pete's knowledge and understanding of distance running were all very complimentary, saying Pete `got it' and understood what it takes in today's running world to be successful. I'm excited about the future of the Cougar distance and cross country program."

Julian comes to WSU from Metropolitan State College of Denver where he served four seasons as the men's and women's cross country head coach and three seasons as the men's and women's track and field head coach. This past year he directed the Metro State men's teams to high finishes in the NCAA Div. II Championships: 10th in the Indoor, 16th in the Outdoor and 14th in Cross Country. The Roadrunners' women's cross country team placed 19th nationally last fall. Under Julian's tutelage, Metro State produced the national 2009 DII indoor and outdoor champion in the men's 800m, Anthony Luna, who ran a school record time of 1:47.90.

During Julian's tenure Metro State garnered 11 NCAA All-America distance honors and 37 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honors for sprints, jumps, distance and relays. The Metro State men's track team also received national academic honors from the United States Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), finishing in the DII top 20 this year for team grade point average.

For the past three years Julian has also been the director of Tempo Sports, the official distance center of USA Track & Field, in Boulder, Colo., managing and coordinating the elite distance training group. In the summer of 2008, Julian was an assistant coach for the Nike Oregon Project where he assisted world-class athletes leading up to the 2008 Olympic Trials. In 2007 he served as the director of the USA Cross Country Championships and World Team Trials, also in Boulder.

An Oregon native, Julian graduated from Ashland High where he ran for his father, Bob Julian, on the Oregon state high school championship team. He earned four All-America certificates at the University of Portland: three in track and became the first Pilot in school history to earn one in cross country. After graduating with a degree in communications management, Julian spent over 10 years racing professionally in track and road races as a member of Team adidas. He was a member of the United States World Cross Country team in 1997 and 1998, running personal-best times of 3:42 in the 1500m, 13:33 in the 5,000m, and 28:05 in the 10,000m. Julian captured the bronze medal in the 10,000m at the 1999 Pan American Games, and was a finalist in the 10k at the IAAF World Championships in Seville, Spain, that same year.

Prior to Metro State, Julian was a volunteer assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the cross country programs and Santa Clara University and Regis University (Denver).

Julian is married to Colleen Glyde Julian, a former All-American distance runner at the University of Colorado who has a PhD in medical anthropology and is currently serving a fellowship with the Colorado Altitude Research Center in Denver, Colo. The Julians have a four-year old son named Wade, in addition to faithful pet companions, Boise, a cat, and Miles, a dog.

"We will certainly miss Jason Drake," Sloan said. "He was a great addition to our staff and everyone loved JD, but it was a family decision to pursue other professional opportunities, not only for himself but for his wife, Colleen, who is a doctor of veterinary medicine. But I am confident that Pete Julian will create a lot of excitement about Cougar distance running."

"It is a tremendous honor to coach at Washington State University where the track and field program has such a rich history," Julian said. "Growing up in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, I was aware of runners like Gerry Lindgren as well as the great field and sprint athletes. Washington State has always been a powerhouse in track and field. To be named to this amazing staff is an incredible honor and I am going to work diligently to continue on the great tradition of the program. I have been fortunate to meet and work with both as a professional athlete and a coach to form some really strong relationships with a lot of good people in the sport. I am very thankful to the people who recommended for this position. I am grateful for the opportunity to coach in the Pac-10. I am really excited to be part of this Cougar family."

NOTE: Washington State University's Linda Chalich contributed to this report.