Bio

Now in his 15th season as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Tampa, Coach Batten brings a wealth of experience to the Spartans.

A native from Clearwater, Fla., he started his coaching career off as an assistant at the University of South Florida from 1994 to 1997, assisting the head coach in all assets of day-to-day operations. During his time at USF the men’s cross country team won a Conference USA title.

Following that, Batten was a graduate assistant coach with the Florida State University men’s and women’s Track and Cross Country programs with duties focusing on travel and meet management as well as daily operations. While at FSU the programs won several ACC titles and contended for NCAA championships.

Prior to coaching, Batten earned his degree from USF in Exercise Science. Also, as a walk-on athlete he competed for South Florida in cross country and track, ranging from 3000 meters to 10, 000 meters.

As a student-athlete at USF he posted personal bests of 8:15.01 (3000), 14:25.01 (5000) and 29:46.00 (10,000) as well as garnering individual conference champion 3000 and 10,000 meter honors and a NCAA Championship provisional qualifying mark.

Also, the men’s cross country team won 3 Metro Conference Cross Country Championship titles and two Track Championships during his student-athlete tenure. Batten held and earned all-conference honors in cross country, indoor and outdoor track.