Aaron Batey was named the Little Rock men’s and women’s cross country and distance head coach in Aug. 2014. Batey has served as assistant coach for the Little Rock track & field and cross country teams since 2010 after a decorated four-year career as a student-athlete.

In his new role, Batey will take over head coaching responsibilities for the men’s and women’s cross country teams, as well as all men’s and women’s distance and middle distance events for the indoor and outdoor track and field teams.

An eight-time All-Sun Belt honoree in cross country and track and field, Batey earned back-to-back appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Regional in the 1,500-meter run in 2008 and 2009. 

An 11-time All-Sun Belt honoree in cross country and track and field, Batey earned back-to-back appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Regional in the 1,500-meter run in 2008 and 2009. In 2008, he became only the second athlete in school history to earn Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship Men’s Top Scorer honors after winning the 1,500 meters, placing second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and placing third in the 5,000-meter run. Batey holds the school record for the men’s mile, which he set in 2010 with a time of 4:04.38.

A native of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Batey graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2010 with a degree in health and exercise science.