Marquette’s cross country program is in much more of a period of transition than the team is used to heading into the season following the departure of former head coach Mike Nelson 18 days before its first meet.
“It’s been crazy all around,” Sean Birren, the interim head coach, said. “It’s a hard transition, but it’s also a fun experience to see everyone try to work through it.”
Not only did Birren receive the responsibilities of a new job, but he was given responsibilities in the form of a daughter. Birren’s wife went into labor no more than 15 minutes after Birren signed his contract to become the interim head coach.