Western Kentucky University Women's Track & Field

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

Bendick joined the WKU Student Athlete Success Center in 2024. She advises the WKU Volleyball and both Men's and Women's Track and Cross-Country teams where she assists with their academic needs, academic advising, NCAA eligibility, and ensuring that all athletes are progressing towards the completion of their desired degree. Prior to joining the WKU SASC staff Bendick was an assistant coach for the Glenville State University Women's Basketball team. During her tenure on the GSU Lady Pioneer basketball staff Bendick helped guide the team to an 80-8 overall record while securing a D2 National Championship in 2021-2022 and a Final Four appearance in 2022-2023. In addition to her on the court duties at GSU, Bendick held the position of Academic Oversight Advisor for all women's sports programs where they achieved historic success with programmatic GPAs and graduation rates. Bendick graduated in 2009 with an MA in Sports Management from Hardin Simmons University and a BA in Administration from McMurry University in 2005. Bendick is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas and currently resides in Bowling Green, Kentucky with her husband Luke, their pug Yasi and cat Karma.

Brittany Henderson enters her first season as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky after serving as the program’s volunteer hurdles coach in 2024–25. A Denver, Colorado native, Henderson competed collegiately at the University of Colorado before finishing her career at Colorado State University. A heptathlete and long jumper, she also qualified for the U.S. Championships in 2013 and 2017. Henderson brings seven years of coaching experience at the high school, club, and collegiate levels. She has coached multiple state champions, conference winners, and state qualifiers, while also training elite athletes such as U.S. heptathlete Anna Hall, Maya Evans, and Emily Sloan. At WKU, Henderson works primarily with the 400m, hurdles, and jumps.

Jeff Henderson was hired to the track and field staff in August of 2024. Henderson, who won Olympic Gold in the long jump at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic ...

Nico Morales comes to WKU from Rutgers and will oversee the pole vaulters for the 2025-26 season. Morales, a native of New Jersey and a former vaulter for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights competed collegiately from 2020-2025. During his collegiate career, Morales vaulted to a personal best of 5.49m (18' ft) and finished 13th at the 2025 NCAA DI Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Morales finished in the top-10 at the Big Ten Championships on four occasions. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2025, Morales was one of just eight representing the Scarlet Knights at the championship meet. Morales graduated from Rutgers University with both a Bachelors of Arts and a Masters of Arts. He grew up in Franklinville, New Jersey.

Rashaud Scott joins WKU as an Assistant Track and Field Coach, working with the throwing events. A Bronx, New York native, Scott began his collegiate career ...

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.