Michael Whittlesey, Ph.D.

Biography

Michael Whittlesey is in his 17th season as an assistant coach for cross country and middle distance/distance running at Kansas. Throughout his career, guiding runners both on the trails and the track, Whittlesey has accumulated impressive numbers in big achievements, including 12 NCAA Champions, 100 All-Americans, 59 conference Champions (18 Big 12 Champions) 10 USA National Champions and three American records. The KU distance program has seen great success under Whittlesey’s tutelage, most recently during the 2025 track season where Whittlesey’s groups had significant success at the Big 12 Championships. Sophomore Emmah Jemutai won the 1500m in a new Kansas record time of 4:08.60 and finished third in the 800m, also setting the KU record 2:01.83. Jemutai also finished fourth in the Big 12 indoor mile. Junior Tanner Talley and sophomore Paul Ngasharr placed third and sixth for the men in the outdoor 1500m. Freshman standout Ebba Cronholm also finished third at the Big 12 Championships in the steeplechase and then set a new Jayhawk record in the event at the NCAA Championships in a mark of 9:46.53. Another recent Jayhawk standout under Whittlesey is Chandler Gibbens, who reset the KU records in the 10k, Indoor and Outdoor 5Ks. Gibbens won both events at the 2023 Outdoor Big 12 Championships, becoming the first Jayhawk to win both events in their career for the men’s program. In 2024 Gibbens went on to finish fifth at the NCAA Championships in the 10k, running 28:10.87 and pl