Head Coach Rick Cummins

Contact WSU Cross Country Send an e-mail Phone: (313) 577-4293

Assistant Coach Jenny Jacobs Volunteer Assistant Coach Clay Sheckels

Men’s and women’s cross country at Wayne State University has become well respected in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference behind the leadership of fifth year head coach Rick Cummins. In only four seasons, Cummins has put WSU men’s and women’s cross country on the regional and national maps with strong performances every year. This year was no exception as the men’s and women’s teams had great showings in the GLIAC Championships in Ashland, Ohio. The men won the conference championship while the women finished fifth.

Ashland University head coach Bill Gallagher feels Cummins has done an outstanding job with the two teams. "Rick took a struggling program and has turned it into something special," said Gallagher. "He has recruited wonderful athletes and many people have gained respect for him because of his hard work. He has done a great job and I believe the program will only get better because of Rick’s efforts."

Cummins is no stranger to WSU entering his sixth season at the school. Before taking over the reigns of the cross country program, Cummins was a women’s basketball assistant coach for two years (1997-1999). In his second season Cummins was an assistant coach and also a head coach of the cross country program.

Cummins has had coaching experience at every level and in many sports. He coached in the high school ranks at Bishop Redford Borgess (1994-1996). He was the junior varsity and freshmen women’s basketball coach for two years and also an assistant softball coach. Cummins spent time at the University of Michigan Dearborn where he was assistant women’s basketball coach from 1993-1996. Cummins also has coached on the professional ranks coaching tennis professionally for 10 years in Southwest Michigan.

Cummins received his Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Michigan in 1994. He received his Master’s degree from WSU in Sports Administration in 1996. Cummins and his wife, Dorene, have two children, Karlie (4) and Easton (2).