(Story courtesy of Schreiner University Sports Information)

KERRVILLE, Texas -- Schreiner graduate Philip Anderson has been named the school's new head coach for Women's and Men's Cross Country.

Anderson starred as a member of the Schreiner men's soccer team from 2008-12 and it was soccer that introduced Anderson to the world of distance running. While at Cy-Fair High School, he was looking for a way to boost his endurance on the pitch and joined the CFHS cross country team to do so. He ended up running all four years at Cy-Fair and twice qualfied for UIL 5A Regionals during his cross country career. He's been running ever since. Upon graduation from SU in 2012 (Exercise Science), he has stayed around soccer and has continued to train and put in the miles. He now competes in distance races around the central Texas area and completed his first marathon in Austin in 2013.

Although he hasn't been a head coach previously, he has served as the assistant coach for Schreiner Women's Soccer (2013-14) as well as for the men's program (2015).

SU Director of Athletics Ron Macosko on Anderson's hiring: "We are really proud to have Coach Anderson take over our cross country programs. We are ready to take both programs to another level and needed someone with the passion, personality, selflessness and work ethic to make Schreiner Cross Country special. Anyone who's ever been around Philip for any length of time knows that he has all those traits in great supply. He is a Schreiner guy, is totally committed to his students and to elevating Mountaineer Cross Country and I look forward to watching him build both programs in the coming years."

Both teams will begin training in late August with the first competition shortly thereafter.