Chicago, Ill. - Illinois Tech is pleased to announce the appointment of David Ringwood as the new Head Coach for the Cross Country and Track & Field programs, effective October 26, 2026. Ringwood joins Illinois Tech after a successful tenure at Vermont State University - Johnson, where he served as the Head Coach for the Cross Country and Track & Field teams.

At Vermont State University - Johnson, Ringwood distinguished himself with an impressive record of accomplishments. Under his leadership, the teams secured multiple championships, including two ECAC Championships and five North Atlantic Conference Championships. His tenure also saw athletes achieving significant accolades, such as an All-American honor, a New England Regional Championship, and numerous ECAC podium finishes in shot put and discus. Additionally, his athletes earned the titles of Conference Athlete of the Year and Conference Senior Scholar Athlete.

Ringwood's previous experience includes a role as Head Coach at Pratt Institute, where he expanded the team roster by 100% and led athletes to ECAC Individual and team podium finishes. His coaching career also includes an assistant coaching position at Loyola University, where he played a pivotal role in recruiting efforts, resulting in the highest team finishes at the Patriot League Championships.

Usha Gilmore, Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics at Illinois Tech, expressed her enthusiasm for the new hire stating, "We are excited about the opportunity to welcome David Ringwood to Illinois Tech Athletics. David brings a wealth of experience, a proven ability to recruit and develop student-athletes, and a strong understanding of what it takes to build competitive programs at the NCAA Division III level. His success in growing rosters, developing championship-caliber athletes, and creating a positive team culture is exactly what we are looking for as we continue to strengthen our cross country and track and field programs. I am confident that his leadership, energy, and commitment to student-athlete success will help take our programs to the next level. We look forward to the future of these programs under his direction."

Ringwood himself shared his excitement about joining Illinois Tech, saying, "I am extremely excited to join a program that shares a vision of growth, purpose, and success rooted in a family mindset. Illinois Tech boasts a proven track record of redefining how high the cross country and track and field programs can go, and the opportunity to build on that success is an opportunity I am grateful for. I'm thankful to Usha Gilmore and the search committee for their enthusiasm and belief that we can accomplish something great together."