Marshall resigns as GCCC track and cross country coach

Garden City, KS-After four years at Garden City Community College, Doug Marshall has accepted the head track and field coach position at Iowa Western.

“It really came down to a family decision,” Marshall said. “It was a matter of where my family would be the happiest. And Iowa Western is a great program.”

Marshall, was hired as a volunteer assistant coach back in 2014, but when Ray Putnam left at the end of the 2017 cross country season, he was promoted to Head Coach.

“My goal when I came here was to make Garden City a better program,” Marshall said. “If I ever left, I wanted them to be in a better place than when I started.”

Marshall has been a coach in Garden City for nearly a decade. Seven years ago, he was hired as an assistant track coach at Garden City high school, where he tutored six state placers, a school-record holder, as well as the 2013 6A long-jump state champion.

“There’s really a lot of great people in Garden City that helped me along the way,” Marshall said. “It’s a great community that has really supported our program.”

Marshall began his career at Hartford High School in Hartford, KS, where he guided his squad to two state runner-up finishes. He coached three all-state nominees.

“John Green has really helped me throughout my time in Garden City,” Marshall said. “The Rutti’s: Ashley and Jared, have been amazing.  I also want to thank President Swender as well for his trust in me if it weren’t for his trust in me and his support for me we couldn’t have brought the first national championship in Track and Field in 20 years to GCCC. There are so many people I want to thank, but I don’t want to leave anyone out.”

Marshall was instrumental in the Broncbusters landing transfer Sandra Szpott, who finished second at the Cross Country nationals in November. He also coached Denim Rogers, who broke the national record in the indoor decathlon and won a national championship last season.

“The ground work has been laid for the future,” Marshall said. “There is a very good class coming in for next year.”

Marshall earned his bachelor’s degree from Emporia State in 2011, where he qualified for the NCAA nationals in the triple jump. He also holds the third-best triple jump in school history and earned seven all-Mid America Intercollegiate Athletic awards in both the long and triple jumps.