BYU Track and Field Adds Ryan Waite to Staff, expands Kyle Grossarth’s Role

PROVO, Utah – BYU track and field director Ed Eyestone today announced the hiring of Ryan Waite as an assistant coach on the Cougars’ staff. Waite, a former BYU distance runner and five-time All-American (2010-13), joins Eyestone’s staff after six years of coaching experience at Delaware. 

“Ryan Waite rejoins us after an outstanding six years in Delaware,” Eyestone said. “During that time, he became the director of track and field and recruited and coached up his middle distance and distance crew to be the best in the conference. We are grateful that he would return to BYU to bolster our recruiting and add nuance to our middle distance and distance runners.” 

Waite will serve as the recruiting coordinator and assistant men’s and women’s distance coach. He joins a seasoned staff that includes associate director Diljeet Taylor, associate head coach Mark Robison, throws coach Niklas Arrhenius, sprints/hurdles/relays coach Kyle Grossarth and pole vault coach Rick McWhorter.

Most recently, Waite spent four years as Delaware’s cross country head coach and had been named head coach of track and field this past summer. In 2021, he led the Blue Hens' cross country women’s team to a third-place finish at the 2021 Colonial Athletic Association Championships and placed ninth at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals. He served as interim head coach of the track and field program in 2021-22, coaching athletes Megan Albamonti and Susanna Weir to spots in the NCAA East Preliminaries while competing in the javelin and 10,000m race, respectively. 

He has mentored numerous athletes, guiding distance runner Holly Manning to an NCAA East Prelims appearance and top-25 finish in the 800 meters. He also coached Delaware alumna Michaela Meyer, who placed fourth at the U.S. Olympic trials in the 800m. 

He assisted in Delaware cross country’s 2019 CAA Outdoor Track & Field championship and coached the cross country team to a second-place finish at the 2019 CAA Championship. 

Waite returns to the Cougars with great familiarity. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications at BYU in 2014, he served as a student assistant for the track and field team for the 2013-14 season and then held the title of director of operations for two years (2014-16). In that period, Waite worked closely with Eyestone on logistical and administrative duties while aiding the cross country team in its second and first place WCC finishes in 2014 and 2015, respectively. 

As a collegiate athlete at BYU, Waite holds distinctions as a five-time All-American, three-time conference champion and holds the school record in the distance medley relay. He also holds the Cougars’ third all-time indoor 800-meter record with a 2013 time of 1:48.49 along with being BYU’s fourth all-time 800m finisher with a 1:46.83 mark set in 2010. 

Kyle Grossarth Takes Over Sprints, Hurdles and Relays for Women 

Eyestone also announced the expanded duties of assistant coach Kyle Grossarth. Having served as an assistant coach with the program since 2013, Grossarth will now be over sprints, hurdles and relays for the women in addition to continuing with the men in the same role. 

“I am excited to see Kyle's role expanded to encompass our men's and women's sprint/hurdle group,” said Eyestone. “Our men's sprint group has become excellent under Kyle's direction and with hard work that same excellence is on the horizon for our sprint women.” 

Grossarth has been involved with the track and field program for over 22 years as a volunteer assistant coach (2000-07), strength and conditioning coach (2007-13) and assistant coach (2013-current).

In his current role, he has helped guide six First Team All-American athletes, seven Second Team All-American selections, and 20 honorable mentions. The Cougars have placed three MPSF Indoor Track and Field champions in the 400-meters, three in the 200-meters and an additional two championships in the 4x400-meter relay under his guidance. Grossarth has also overseen BYU’s top 4x400m relay finish in its history with a 9.29.00 time in 2015.

Grossarth has coached several athletes who hold all-time records for the Cougars, including Michael Bluth who is second all-time in the 400m (2019).

A collegiate athlete at BYU (1995, 1998-2000), Grossarth won two conference 400-meter hurdle titles, one with the WAC in 1999 another as part of the Mountain West Conference in 2000. He has earned a Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s of Science at BYU.

In his post-collegiate athletic career, Grossarth competed in the 2000 Olympic Trials and placed seventh at the 2002 U.S. Track & Field championships in the 400m hurdles.

“These changes will help us leverage our strengths going into the Big 12,” said Eyestone. “They’ll allow us to be our most competitive in cross country, indoor and outdoor seasons from year one”