Peru State athletic director Steve Schneider has announced the recent hiring of Katy Billings of Auburn as the new Bobcat cross country coach. Billings began her work as the new head coach on Jan. 2.

Currently, Billings is employed at the Nemaha County Well Center in Auburn as a personal trainer and group fitness class instructor. Her expertise runs the gamut from yoga to kickboxing to boot camp and beyond. Billings anticipates incorporating some of her training experiences into her coaching experience at Peru State. By doing so, dedicated student-athletes on the women's cross country team can look forward to a variety of cross training, along with their running.

A 2007 Peru State honors graduate with a degree in criminal justice administration, Billings is excited to give back to the institution that served her well during her college years.

Billings began running when she was 12 years old in the sixth grade at the Auburn Middle School and has not stopped running since. She said, "I have not stopped running and have done so through middle school, high school, college, getting married, and having three daughters. I am excited to share my passion for running as I take on the head coaching position for the women's cross country team at Peru State."

In addition, Billings added, "Since I started running, I've had the opportunity to participate in numerous races, and the rewards and memories that go along with running races last a lifetime. This past October I completed the Market to Market 50K Ultramarathon in Lincoln. Training for the event and running the event were the most taxing thing I've ever done physically. I had a dedicated team of family and friends whom cheered me on throughout the training process and the day of the race, and I wouldn't have been able to do it without their help. I'm excited to become not just a coach, but a training partner as well, to the Bobcat women's cross country team members. Sharing my experience with them will be rewarding." 

When not running or teaching a class or now coaching, you will find Billings very busy with her three daughters' activities. Billings and her husband John are parents to Carolyn – 12, Melody – 9, and Kristen – 6. The entire Billings family enjoys going to any sort of sporting event, particularly Bobcat athletics.

Billings inherits a team which now just consists of one, but she has already hit the trail running (yes, the pun was intended) with recruiting. Working with the previous coach, Leah Wehenkel – who is returning to school for an education degree, Billings has made contact with several of the current recruits and has plans to have a larger squad in the fall.

AD Schneider is pleased to have Billings on board. Schneider commented, "Peru State is pleased to have Katy join our coaching staff as the new women's cross country coach. Her passion for running, her actual running experiences, and her work as a personal fitness trainer, should be of benefit for future Bobcat cross country teams. We are excited for Katy to get started and to build the program so that it is competitive year-in and year-out."