After a two-year hiatus, Athletic Director Janet Eaton has announced that Lourdes University will reinstate its track and field program for both men and women beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.
 
Current cross country coach Micah Tirop will also assume the duties as head track and field coach as well, with Lori Mahoney joining the program as an assistant coach.
 
Lourdes previously had a track and field team for the 2016-2017 season.
 
"I am excited to bring track and field back to Lourdes," Eaton stated.  "The initial goal is to field a roster with sprinters and distance runners before eventually growing the program into a full-fledge operation.  I have full confidence in Coach Tirop and his staff to lead our track program as he has a great deal of experience coaching not only cross country, but also track and field."
 
Tirop arrived at Lourdes in December of 2018 as the head men's and women's cross country coach after serving as the assistant men's and women's cross country and track and field coach at Middle Tennessee State University for two years.  In 2017, he helped lead the NCAA Division I school to the Conference USA title in men's cross country, while assisting the Blue Raiders to a 23^rd place finish at the NCAA National Championships that same season. 
 
No stranger to head coaching positions as well, Tirop spent three years as the head men's and women's cross country and track and field coach at Wiley College from 2013-2015.  With the Wildcats, he was named the Red River Athletic Conference men's and women's cross country Coach of the Year in 2014.  He was also the RRAC men's track and field Coach of the Year twice while earning the women's honor in 2015.
 
Tirop led Wiley to the RRAC title in both men's and women's cross country in 2014 while guiding the track and field teams to conference crowns in 2015.  His men's program also won the league title in 2014, finishing 13^th at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championship that same season. 
 
An outstanding runner during his collegiate days, Tirop was the Sun Belt Conference cross country champion for the University of South Alabama in 2007 and 2008.  A four-time All-SBC honoree, he also earned All-Region honors four seasons on the trails while qualifying for the NCAA National Championships three times. 
 
Tirop also had success on the oval during his college career with the Jaguars, winning the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 titles in the Sun Belt Conference three times.  He was the top scorer in the conference indoor meet in 2008.