Dusty López enters his fifth year as head coach of the Webster University cross country/track and field programs. López has guided the Gorloks in their first-ever appearances at the NCAA regional cross country championship, and in four seasons has helped nine cross country athletes reach all-conference status in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC). In track and field, the Gorloks have also recorded numerous all-SLIAC finishes, including five event champions in two years.
In 2010, sophomore Jane McKibben, along with freshmen Heather Heisse and Eroica Stackhouse, earned all-conference accolades, leading the Gorloks to second place, their highest-ever finish at the SLIAC championship. The three all-conference individuals matched the Gorloks’ previous program best as well, tying the 2007 squad.
López oversaw the continued development of the track and field teams in 2011, as the women’s team repeated in second place finishers in the SLIAC, and the men also equaled their 2010 performance in third. The program continues to establish new standards in number of participants, events contested, personal bests, and school records.
López arrived at Webster after spending two years as an assistant coach for cross country and track at Williams College in Massachusetts. Prior to his stint at Williams, López was a graduate assistant with the cross country and track programs at Syracuse University from 2002 to 2004. While at Syracuse, he earned a master’s degree in print journalism.
During his time at Williams, López worked with two NCAA Div. III national champions, along with seven other athletes who achieved All-America status. He also coached many all-region honorees and three cross country teams that finished in the top ten at the NCAA Div. III championships (women in 2005 and 2006, men in 2006).
At Syracuse, López was part of a coaching staff that helped Orange athletes achieve several NCAA Div. I regional and Big East qualifying marks.
As an undergraduate, López was a four-year letter winner in cross country and track at Williams. He served as team captain and earned All-America honors in cross country and the outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 meters during the 2000-2001 academic year.
López has earned USATF Level II coaching certification in endurance events as well as USTFCCCA specialist certification in the jumps.
He hails from Trout Lake, Washington. López lives with his wife, Caitlin, and three daughters, Nora, Anna, and Brenna, in University City.
