UA Cossatot hires Soto to lead XC teams

The University of Arkansas Cossatot is continuing to expand its athletic department with the addition of a cross country program and the hiring of Tony Soto as its first head coach.

UA Cossatot currently offers men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, and shooting sports.

Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole said, UA Cossatot is excited to introduce cross country, citing the strong tradition of the sport in the surrounding area. He added that Soto is the right person to build and lead the new program.

Soto brings both competitive experience and a long record of service. A former standout at De Queen High School, he still holds the fourth-fastest 5K time in school history at the state meet level. He also placed third in both the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs at the 1999 Arkansas Indoor High School Championships.

After high school, Soto joined the National Guard in 2000. He was deployed to Iraq from 2004 to 2005 and again in 2008, and later served in Africa in 2017. He completed 20 years of active duty before retiring in 2024.

UA Cossatot’s cross country teams are set to begin competition this fall, with most meets expected to take place in Arkansas and Oklahoma.