Looney returns to La Grande to help Welch with a team that she ran for in the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

Her coaching resume includes a stint as an assistant coach at Lake City High School and a season at Park Christian High School.

Looney, who was Morris back then, ran a 19:34 at the Willamette Invitational as a freshman. The time still is the 18th-fastest time for a freshman runner in EOU history.

During that season, she was selected Outstanding Athlete by her peers.

Her track career at EOU includes a national NAIA qualifier as a member of Eastern's 4x800-meter relay team in 1998.

After leaving EOU after her sophomore season with husband-to-be Ryan Looney, Julianna competed in the NCAA Division III Regional meet as a member of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse team her senior season.
The 1997 Warrenton (Ore.) High School graduate qualified for the Oregon State Championship Track Meet three straight years, highlighted by a second-place finish in the 800 meters in her senior season.

Looney's husband, Ryan, is the new head coach of the Mountaineer men's basketball team at EOU.