MANHATTAN, Kan. Kansas State University Director of Athletics Tim Weiser announced Wednesday the hiring of Teresa Slough (pronounced to rhyme with "wow") as the third women’s equestrian coach in school history.  Her duties officially begin August 10.

            “We are excited and fortunate to have Teresa return to Kansas State,” said Weiser. “She is very well respected in the equine community and brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to our coaching position.  Teresa was instrumental in beginning our intercollegiate Equestrian program and I know she will continue the success we have enjoyed in that sport.”

            Slough is no stranger to Kansas State after serving first as the school’s club coach then as its first full-time head coach during its inaugural year of competition in 2000-01.  She left the university in May 2001 to start work on a doctorate degree in Animal Science and Reproductive Physiology at Colorado State.  Slough is expected to complete her Ph.D. this year.  While at CSU, Slough served two years as the head coach for the national champion Arabian Horse Judging team.

            “I am really excited about coming back to Kansas State,” said Slough.  “I'm anxious to return to Manhattan and start working with the team. There are some really talented riders on the squad, the team has acquired some nice horses, and things are looking good for the upcoming season.  It's an honor to be invited back, and I look forward to working with both the animal science and athletic departments in developing a more comprehensive equine program.”

            During her one year as the school’s equestrian coach, Slough led the Wildcats to 68 individual first-place finishes and six first-place team titles during the 2000-01 season.  She also coached three Wildcats who qualified for the national championships, including Kelly Gratny, who finished fourth in the Open Western Horsemanship division and Kristy Rue, who finished eighth in the Novice Fences division.  In addition, Slough coached two High Point Riders and four Reserve High Point Riders during the season.             

            Prior to her appointment as Kansas State’s first equestrian coach on July 12, 1999, Slough spent one year coaching the club equestrian team, which included Gratny, the National IHSA Individual Open Western Horsemanship Reserve winner. 

            In addition to coaching the club equestrian team, Slough was a graduate teaching assistant in the animal science department.  Her primary responsibilities were to serve as an assistant coach for the department’s horse judging team, where she helped lead the squad to the All-American Quarter Horse Congress and World Championships.  She also prepared practice classes, presented lectures on performance events, coached students in oral reason presentations and assisted in planning and hosting judging contests.

            Slough has been a horse show judge and clinician since 1996 in Kansas and Missouri, where her duties included serving as an official judge for statewide open, club and 4-H shows.  She also conducted horsemanship clinics and skills tests for the Kansas 4-H program and presented demonstrations on judging and showing stock type horses in all events.

            Slough, 27, graduated summa cum laude from Kansas State with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Industry in 1999.  She completed her master’s degree in Animal Science and Equine Nutrition from Kansas State in the summer of 2001.  While an undergraduate, Slough was a member of the livestock judging team at both Butler County (Kan.) Community College and K-State and a member of the Kansas State’s Congress Champion Horse Judging Team in 1998.

            A native of St. Francis, Kan., the former Teresa Douthit was married to Galen Slough on July 22, 1999.

            Slough replaces Lindsay Breidenthal, who resigned on March 23 after three seasons as head coach.