Ellen Hurst - Associate Head Coach - Director of Operations - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Ellen Hurst

Title:
Associate Head Coach - Director of Operations
Email:
Phone:
858-469-4538

Ellen Hurst was named the Associate Head Coach and Director of Operations for Colorado’s men’s and women’s cross country and track and field programs in July 2025. She works alongside Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Sean Carlson in overseeing program operations, logistics, and administrative coordination for both programs.

Hurst arrived in Boulder after spending nine seasons (2016–25) as the Director of Operations for the University of Tennessee track and field program, where she was responsible for team travel, meet logistics, budget management, and internal operations.

A decorated student-athlete at Tennessee from 2009–12 under her maiden name, Ellen Wortham, Hurst was an 11-time USTFCCCA All-American and a two-time SEC Champion in the 400-meter hurdles. She still holds the Tennessee school record in the event with a time of 55.55 seconds, set at the 2012 SEC Championships. Hurst was also a member of the 2010 NCAA Champion distance medley relay team and earned SEC titles in both the 400m hurdles and DMR. She was named the 2012 SEC Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year and received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

Hurst competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2012 and 2016, placing 10th in the 400m hurdles in 2012 and narrowly missing the final by one-tenth of a second.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology, summa cum laude, from Tennessee in 2012, and later earned an Ed.S. in school psychology from Nicholls State University in 2016. During her graduate studies, Hurst worked in the athletics business office and served as a volunteer assistant with the Nicholls State track and field and cross country programs. She also completed a school psychology internship with Alcoa City Schools, supporting student interventions and behavioral assessments.

A native of Maryville, Tenn., Hurst brings a comprehensive background in collegiate athletics as both a high-level athlete and experienced operations leader.