Western Kentucky University Men's Cross Country

For media inquiries, please contact Will Gerber at will.gerber637@topper.wku.edu. Lee Wood was hired to lead the WKU Cross Country and distance teams in December of 2023 and was named Interim Director of Cross Country/Track & Field on January 31, 2025 following the sudden passing of Brent Chumbley. Wood came to The Hill from Drury University where he had served as the head track and field and cross country coach since 2021. Wood started his coaching career at Rogers High School and Heritage High School, winning seven state championships in 12 years including a Triple Crown in 2005 with Rogers. Following his stint at the high school level, he was hired to lead NCAA Division II national distance powerhouse Western Colorado University where he helped lead men's and women’s teams that finished on the podium year after year. As an assistant he helped coach over 25 All-Americans and coached numerous individual national champions and the national champion DMR team (2018). In 2021, he took the position as head men’s and women’s cross country/ track and field coach at Drury University where he came in and changed the culture of the team, while also leading athletes to over 70 school records. He guided the 2023 men’s and women’s team to the highest finishes in the conference in school history with the women finishing runner-up and the men finishing third. While with Drury, Wood coached three All-Americans: Claire McCune (Cross Country), Katie McCune (800 indoor and outdoor), and Bradle

Samantha Naughton is originally from Illinois, where she graduated from Illinois State University with her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training. She went on to pursue her Post-Professional Masters of Science in Athletic Training Degree at Missouri State University. While at Missouri State, she worked at Drury University with their XC/Track and Field, Women's Soccer, and Cheer team. Sam joined the WKU Athletic Training staff in June 2023 and will primarily work with cross country and track and field. Her history of running track and field during her freshman and sophomore year of college help her grasp the fundamentals of the sport. Her understanding of how competing at a collegiate level helps drive her passion to get athletes healthy enough to compete again.