NCAA South Central Regional
Waco, Texas
TBA

NCAA Championship
Terre Haute, Ind.
TBA

Jon Warren Position: Head Coach Alma Mater: Rice, 1988; M. Ed., Houston, 1991

Synonymous with Rice track and field is eighth-year head coach Jon Warren. Warren, a former Rice Owl track star, has been associated with the program for the past 14 years. In that time, Rice track and field has blossomed in competition and in the class room.

In 2008, the Owls placed second at the Conference USA Indoor Championship and third in the C-USA Outdoor championship, after finishing third at the 2007 cross country championship.

2007 was highlighted by the emergence of Pablo Solares as one of the premier1,500 meter runners in school history. Solares captured the C-USA Indoor title at 1,500 meters and then doubled in the 800 and 1,500, both in meet record times, in the outdoor championships held at Rice. He also set a school record in the 1,500 with a time of 3:40.34.

Warren was named the Western Athletic Conference coach of the year in 2004 after guiding the Owls to one of the most successful seasons in Rice history. His Owls' captured their first conference outdoor title since 1971 in dominating fashion. Rice finished with a whopping 200 points, 53 ahead of second-place UTEP, winning five individual titles and the 4x400-meter relay. Warren saw Ryan Harlan win the decathlon and score in five other events to earn both the high-point and outstanding performer awards.

Adam Davis (800m) and Jason Powell (triple jump) went on to win their events at the NCAA regional championships, and at the NCAA Championships, Harlan became Rice's first national champion since 1995. He was joined by Ben Wiggins, Davis and Powell in earning All-America honors as the quartet's success placed Rice in the top-20 in the final team standings.

The fall of 2004 witnessed the cross country team dominating the WAC championships as Marcel Hewamudalige won the meet and led Rice to the team title. The Owls scored 27 points on their one-four-six-seven-nine finish, and Warren was again named the WAC coach of the year by his peers.

In his first two seasons as head coach of the Rice men's program, the cross country team won the WAC championship, and his teams finished second in both the indoor and outdoor championships. His 4x400-meter relay won the conference title in 2002, Davis won the 800 in 2003 and Harlan set a WAC and school record in the indoor pentathlon in 2004.

Warren began his freshman year at Rice as a member of the cross country team, and competed at the 1983 NCAA championships. He was also part of the 1987 contingent that placed in the top 20 of 227 teams at the NCAA championships.

A significant participant during the track season, Warren's indoor 3000m time of 8:06.66, set in 1986, still stands as a Rice record. In 1987, Warren added to his accolades, setting a Rice record of 4:03.05 in the indoor mile that stood until Solares surpassed it in 2007.

As a post-collegian, his top accomplishment came when he earned a spot on the U.S.A. national team for the 1997 IAAF World Championships in Athens, Greece, where he competed in the marathon. Warren placed eighth in the 1996 Olympic Trials marathon and posted a time of 2:15:59 in only his second race for that event. He also competed in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials.

He was a finalist in the 3000m steeplechase at the 1992 Olympic Trials, and was steeplechase champion during the 1995 Olympic Festival. His best time in the event is 8:30.66, and he sports a mile best time of 3:59.30.

Warren returned to Rice in the spring of 1989 as a part-time assistant coach for the distance events. Once elevated to full-time status, Warren's primary coaching duties continued to revolve around the distance corps. Tallying another honor to his record at Rice, Warren led the 1999 and 2001 cross country teams to WAC championships, earning coach of the year honors both years. Three members of the 1999 championship squad were half-milers in high school, and two were walk-ons, while the 2001 squad finished with just six runners.

Warren was named Rice's head men's track and field in July of 2001, upon the retirement of former coach Ray Davidson, who had been at the helm of the Owls for six years.

Off the track, Warren is actively involved in recruiting for Rice, and is instrumental with every aspect of training and development. Warren has coached a two-time All-America in Brian Klein, who, in 1996, posted the sixth-fastest 800m indoor time ever run by a collegian, turning in a time of posting a 1:47.09. Warren was also responsible for the success of three-time All-America Andrew Burrow, two 4x800 meter relay squads that finished first at the Texas Relays, and two NCAA provisional qualifiers in the steeplechase. Davis flourished in the 800- and 1500-meters under Warren's tutelage, earning All-America honors three times.

A 1988 graduate of Rice University, Warren received his degree with a double-major in managerial studies and political science. He earned his master's of education degree from the University of Houston in 1991.

Jon is married to the former Stacy Jones, a 1987 Rice graduate and former swimming athlete for the Owls. She was a two-time Katherine Hannah award winner given to the squad's MVP. The couple has a daughter, Katy (four).