Missouri Baptist University hires new coaches for the Men's Cross Country and Track and Field programs

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Mark and Scott Sissom, MBU Track Coaches

ST. LOUIS, MO (07/18/2012)(readMedia)-- Mark and Scott Sissom join Missouri Baptist University Athletics as coaches of the men's cross country and track and field programs for the 2012-2013 season. The coaches will take over for Gordon Reiter, who led both programs before announcing his retirement in June.

Mark Sissom, who was hired as head coach, comes to MBU with 24 years of coaching experience. Formerly the head track and field coach at Lafayette High School, Sissom led the track and field teams to six Suburban West Conference titles, six MSHSAA District Championship titles, and had a second-place and two fourth-place finishes at the MSHSAA Class 4A Track and Field Championship.

Scott Sissom brings 12 years of coaching experience to MBU and will join his uncle as the assistant coach of the Spartans. He is the former head track and field coach at both McCluer North and Hazelwood East high schools and has led two teams to Missouri State Championships.

"Mark and Scott Sissom are two of the most reputable track and field coaches in St. Louis," said Dr. Tom Smith, director of athletics at MBU. "Because they are so well-respected in the area, I think we will see a significant increase in the number of local student athletes choosing to attend MBU."

In addition to their high school coaching experience, both Mark and Scott can also draw from their own collegiate athletic experiences. Mark Sissom attended Truman State University and was a four-year letterman in both track and field and football. In 1977, he became an NCAA Division II All-American in the discus throw. Scott Sissom was also a multi-sport athlete, competing in track and field, football and wrestling in high school. He received a scholarship to wrestle for the University of Missouri, an NCAA Division I school, in 1991.

MBU is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and has received the distinction of being an NAIA Champions of Character institution for the past 10 years. The Spartans compete in the American Midwest Conference.

Missouri Baptist University is a Christ-centered university located in Saint Louis. MBU offers more than 40 undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees in education, business and religion and its new terminal degree, the Doctor of Education. In addition to its 66-acre West St. Louis County campus, MBU offers degree programs at 10 regional learning centers throughout Saint Louis, in Southern Illinois and online. For more information, go to www.mobap.edu or call 1-877-434-1115.