MIAMI (July 9, 2014) – FIU Senior Associate Athletic Director Julie Berg announced on Wednesday that Ryan Heberling has been named the seventh head coach in the track & field/cross country program's history.
 
"Ryan has done some tremendous things in his time with the track and field program," Berg said. "His work with our student-athletes and vision for success is a credit to his ability as a coach and a mentor. He is a perfect fit and I have no doubt he will raise our program to the new heights."
 
"First and foremost, I would like to thank Pete Garcia and Julie Berg for believing in my vision of FIU track and field and cross country and for giving me the opportunity to lead this amazing program.," Heberling said. "FIU has been home to me for the last 10 years, and I have experienced this program from every level; beginning as a walk-on athlete, to becoming the head coach. My unique experience here at FIU will serve this program well. I know that every athlete in the program is excited to build on the success we experienced last outdoor season, and we have set the bar even higher for the upcoming season.  As an alumnus, I urge all of the Panther track alumni to reach out to me and come home. My staff and I are going to work relentlessly to get our team to the top."
 
Heberling spent the past five years as an assistant coach with the Panthers responsible for FIU's throws squad. Since taking over, his athletes have accumulated 17 all-conference honors, six NCAA regional qualifiers, and one All-American nod. His athletes also hold school records in the men's shot put and discus, and the women's hammer, weight, and javelin throws.
 
This past spring, Heberling guided the FIU track & field outdoor squad as the Panthers sent a record number of student-athletes (6) to the NCAA East Regionals. FIU also had 11 Panthers honored by Conference USA with all-conference recognition in the squad's first season in league action.
 
A graduate and former student-athlete of FIU, Heberling owns three javelin throws that rank among the top 10 in FIU's record books. A Vero Beach, Fla., native, he earned his bachelor of science in exercise physiology in 2009 and is a USATF Level I certified coach.
 
Fans are encouraged to follow the team on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUTrackXC) for all the latest FIU Track and Cross Country news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).


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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and FIU Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelor¹s, master¹s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida¹s anchor institutions, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu