July 2022-Present, Jacksonville University, Head Coach, Cross Country/Distance Coach
Oversees all aspects of the men's and women’s distance programs.
2024-2025
The women saw a significant improvement compared to the previous year with a 9th place finish at XC conference (3 places higher than 2023, 6 points away from 8th). The top 5 women at the ASUN XC Championship 5k averaged 18:49. The men achieved their fastest and most competitive ASUN XC race in over 20 years. The women’s distance runners had a team GPA of 3.65 for the year. The men attained GPA records for spring semester (3.63) and the entire year (3.49 cumulative).
Individual Accomplishments (improvements relative to prior year)
- Thomas Hellenbrand (Sr.)- 25:49 8k XC (JU men's XC 5th all-time), 14:52 for 5k (fastest 5k by JU runner in over 20 years)
- Mya Bodrato (R-Jr.)- 17:45 5k at ASUN XC 2023 (XC PR)
- Jack Bolan (Jr.)- 26:20 for XC 8k (1:10 improvement)
- Zach Earley (So.)- 26:40 for XC 8k (1:40 improvement)
- Lana Grelli (So.)- 18:34 for 5k (never broke 20 before this year)
- Madeline Weiler (Jr.)- 18:45 in ASUN XC 5k (never broke 20 in XC before this season), 18:06 for 5k
- In distances ranging from 800-10kXC, this year 21 athletes ran PRs in distances they had run prior to fall 2024, with most of those who did PR doing so in multiple events
2023-2024
The men had their best performance since 2000 in the ASUN XC 8k. The women saw consistent improvements across the board from cross country through outdoor track. The men and women also both achieved GPAs above 3.4 for both semesters.
Individual Student-Athlete Accomplishments
- Mya Bodrato (R-So.)- 18:32 5k at ASUN XC 2023, 4:35 for 1500m, 17:14 for 5k, 37:19 for 10k (8th place at ASUN Outdoor)
- Madeline Weiler (So.)- 5:15 for indoor mile (20+ second improvement), and 18:45 5k at ASUN Outdoor (first time breaking 20)
- Jack Bolan (So.)- 3:59.54 for 1500 (:10+ improvement) and 15:22 for 5k (:47 improvement)
- Victor Farfan (So.)- 15:17 for 5k, 3:58.09 for 1500, and 26:38 for ASUN XC 8k (:45 improvement)
- Thomas Hellenbrand (Jr.)- 25:58 8k at FSU and ASUN XC (JU men's XC 6th all-time)
- Zachary Mickler (So.)- 26:02 8k (JU men's XC 7th all-time), and best place in 10k by JU runner in 20+ years at XC South region
- In distances ranging from 800-10kXC, this year 20 athletes ran PRs in distances they had run prior to fall 2023, with most of those who did PR doing so in multiple events
2022-2023
The men had their best performance in over a decade in the ASUN XC 8k. They would have a significant improvement in scoring runners’ average time (29:10 avg. at Disney XC course in 2021 to 27:00 avg. at John Hunt Park in 2022). This would also be their first time beating an ASUN opponent outright in 9 years. In the classroom both sides excelled (men and women yearly GPAs above 3.3). The men also achieved their highest semester GPA ever in spring.
Individual Student-Athlete Accomplishments
- Hayleigh Haid (Sr.)- All-ASUN XC 1st-team (16:49 5k- school record), ASUN Indoor 5k runner-up (16:38- school record), 9:35 for Indoor 3k school record, 10:04 for 3kSC regionals qualifier and school record, 16:29 for Outdoor 5k school record, JU AD Award (3.5+ GPA, exemplary person and athlete- picked by AD), 3kSC runner-up at ASUN Outdoor, 10:06 for 13th place at NCAA Regionals in 3kSC (her best place/time at regionals)
- Emma Sullivan (So.)- All-ASUN XC 3rd-team (17:35 5k- JU 5th all-time), and ASUN Indoor 800m champion (2:06.75- Indoor PR)
- Riley Maher (So.)- 26:07 at ASUN XC 8k (JU men's XC 8th all-time), 33:14 at South Region XC (fastest 10k time by JU runner in 10+ years by over 1:30)
- Thomas Hellenbrand (So.)- 26:21 at ASUN XC 8k (2:30+ improvement from previous year), 15:19 track 5k (1:10+ improvement from previous year)
- Owen Skelton (Jr.)- 26:59 at ASUN XC 8k (1:30+ improvement from previous year)
- In distances ranging from 800-8kXC, this year 19 athletes ran PRs in distances they had run prior to fall 2022, with most of those who did PR doing so in multiple events
July 2021-June 2022, Jacksonville University, Head Coach, Men’s Cross Country
Continued to oversee all aspects of the men's program and also began helping grow the women’s distance team. By the end of this year he built the men’s team to its largest roster size ever (20). The men also saw a significant improvement in the scoring runners’ average time in the ASUN XC 8k (30:43 avg. at MGSU course in 2020 to 29:10 avg. at Disney XC course in 2021), for their best performance in 4 years. The team’s performances were led by Owen Skelton (So.) running 28:30 in the ASUN XC 8k (2:00+ improvement from previous year).
July 2019-June 2021, Jacksonville University, Assistant Coach, Cross Country
Oversaw all aspects of the men's program including daily practice plans, competition strategy, and recruiting with the main focus being to grow the team (grew the roster by 9 runners by 2021). During this time, the team also saw a 15-second improvement in the scoring runners’ average time on a more difficult course in the ASUN XC 8k (30:58 avg. at FGCU in 2019 to 30:43 avg. at MGSU course in 2020).
EDUCATION/AFFILIATIONS
April 2018- M.S. Kinesiology, Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL (Graduated with 4.0 GPA)
April 2016- B.S. Nutrition and Dietetics, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL (Graduated Summa Cum Laude- 3.8 GPA)
USTFCCCA Endurance Specialist Certification
USATF Level 1 Certified Track & Field Coach
PERSONAL
He is married to Olivia and they have one son. A native of Stuart, FL, he is also an avid reader and runner, having run a 2:36:59 to finish in 4th place at the hilly BMW Dallas Marathon in December 2022. He has also published research on running biomechanics.
