Cross Country Coaches

Wayne Strohman

Head Coach

Former All-American runner Wayne Strohman became the fourth head coach in the 43-year history of OC’s cross country programs in February 2007. He follows Ray Vaughn, Sr., Tom Hibbits and Randy Heath.

Strohman was a five-time All-American at Oklahoma Christian. He earned the honor in cross country in 1992 and 1993, in indoor track and field in 1993 and 1994, and in outdoor track and field in 1994. The NAIA named him as a Scholar-Athlete in 1993 and 1994. Oklahoma Christian inducted the Casper, Wyo., native into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.

He served as assistant track and cross country coach at Pittsburg State University and ran competitively in meets across the nation until 2004. He twice won the Wichita Marathon in addition to victories in the Dallas White Rock Marathon and Fort Worth Cowtown Marathon. He also is the Kansas state record holder for the 12K and half-marathon.

Strohman also is an assistant on OC’s track and field coaching staff, working under Heath and alongside assistant coach Jeff Bennett, an OC alumnus who placed fourth in the decathlon at the 1972 Olympic Games.

A 1994 OC graduate, Strohman earned a master’s degree in physical education from Pittsburg State. He is pursuing a doctorate in kinesiology/sports administration from Texas Woman’s University.

Strohman has almost a decade of experience in health and fitness management, most recently as Aquatic and Wellness Supervisor at North Texas Rehabilitation Center in Wichita Falls, Texas. In addition to his coaching duties, Strohman serves as director of OC’s fitness programs, including the aquatic center and multiple fitness centers.

Mark Thompson

Assistant Coach

Mark Thompson, one of Oklahoma’s most accomplished track and cross country athletes, join OC’s coaching staff in February 2007.

In addition to his cross country coaching responsibilities, Thompson assists Randy Heath with the men’s and women’s track and field programs, working specifically with the distance runners.

Thompson was a six-time state champion in track and a three-time state champion in cross country at Edmond Memorial High School. On the collegiate level, he was a member of two national championship teams at the University of Arkansas.

The 27-year-old Thompson is an active runner, finishing high in the Arkansas Invitational, the Tulsa 15K Run and the Dallas White Rock Half Marathon in 2006.

Thompson also is a physics instructor at Oklahoma Christian. He joined the OC faculty in 2005 after teaching three years at Fayetteville High School in Fayetteville, Ark. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics from the University of Arkansas.

Thompson is married to the former Darci Grisso, who serves as OC’s Director of Admissions.