Augsburg University Women's Track

Hackert was named head coach of the Augsburg College men's and women's track and field teams in the summer of 2015. Prior to coming to Augsburg, Hackert served as interim women's track and field head coach at Colby, an NCAA Division III college in Waterville, Maine, in the 2014-15 school year, after serving as a men's and women's track and field assistant coach there for three seasons.    Previous Coaching Experience: Interim Head Coach - Women's Track and Field - Colby College (2014-15) Assistant Coach - M/W Track and Field - Colby College (2011-14) Graduate Assistant Coach - M/W Track and Field - Springfield College (2009-11) Assistant Coach - M/W Track and Field - Washington and Jefferson College (2007-09) Hackert served as an assistant coach for Colby's track and field programs from 2011 to 2014, when she was named interim head coach for the Mules' women's track and field program. She served as coach for the men's and women's sprints, hurdles and horizontal jumps during her tenure at Colby.   In 2014-15, she coached an All-American women's 1,600-meter relay squad (sixth) and a national qualifier in the men's 400-meter dash during the indoor half of the season, while coaching an All-American in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase during the outdoor half of the season. She coached eight All-New England Region members (top-eight finishers) during the indoor season and six all-region honorees in the outdoor season.   As a team, Colby finished seventh at the 2015 New England Small College Athletic Conference outdoor championships. The Mules finished 12th out of 30 teams at the 2015 New England Division III indoor track championships and 10th out of 31 teams at the New England Division III outdoor championships.   As an assistant coach at Colby, she guided 14 athletes to All-American honors, including two national champions and a national runner-up, along with four other national meet qualifiers. She coached 26 All-New England Region indoor competitors and 47 All-New England Region outdoor competitors, including three indoor champions and two outdoor champions. She also coached 34 All-NESCAC (top-three finish) competitors, including seven champions. Athletes achieved 11 school records under her guidance.   Hackert served as a graduate assistant from 2009 to 2011 at Springfield (Mass.) and as an assistant coach at Washington and Jefferson (Pa.) from 2007-09. At Springfield, she focused on the sprints, hurdles and high jump, while coaching horizontal jumps, the high jump and hurdles at Washington and Jefferson. At Springfield, she coached an All-American in the heptathlon in 2011, while at Washington and Jefferson, she coached seven Presidents Athletic Conference champions and three national qualifiers, including an All-American in the high jump in the 2009 indoor season.   At each of her coaching stops, she has been responsible for recruiting student-athletes in her event disciplines. Playing Experience/Achievements: As an athlete at Bowdoin College (Maine), she was a multi-event competitor in track and field, earing All-New England Region honors four times, All-Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference honors twice and All-NESCAC honors once.   Education: Hackert earned her bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in visual arts from Bowdoin in 2006, and her master's degree in exercise science, with a concentration in sport psychology, from Springfield in 2012. Personal/Family Notes: Hackert lives in Plymouth, Minn.

Arnold  (Augsburg '12) is serving in his third season at Augsburg as a Level 1 certified assistant coach for the distance runners on the cross country and track and field teams. Previous Coaching Experience: From 2012 to 2014, Arnold served as a volunteer coach for the Augsburg cross country and track and field teams. In 2014, Arnold became an assistant coach for the cross country team, and became a graduate fellow for the cross country team in 2015.  Running Career/Achievements: Arnold was a member of the Augsburg cross country and track and field teams from 2008­ to 2012. In cross country, he captained the teams in 2011 and in 2012. On the track, Arnold was a flexible runner competing at everything between 100 to 800 meters. He is on several of Augsburg's all­-time performance lists, including the indoor 400-meter dash (No. 2), outdoor sprint medley relay (No. 2), outdoor 200-meter dash (No. 3), and outdoor 400-meter dash (No. 3). To go along with several All­-MIAC Honorable Mention honors over his career, he has also been a MIAC champion in the 4x200-meter relay and earned MIAC Athlete of the Week honors. Arnold set two school records during his career, a 1:23.41 time in the indoor 600m dash and a 1:29.77 time in the indoor 4x200-meter relay (still standing). Personal Best Times: 100 meters -- 11.64 200 meters -- 21.93 400 meters -- 48.92 600 meters -- 1:23.41 800 meters -- 2:00.64 5,000 meters -- 16:06 8,000 meters -- 26:36 Marathon -- 2:50.57 Joe Arnold Cross Country Assistant Coach (Graduate Fellow) Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids HS Joe Arnold  (Augsburg '12) is serving in his third season at Augsburg as a Level 1 certified assistant coach for the distance runners on the cross country and track and field teams. Previous Coaching Experience: From 2012 to 2014, Arnold served as a volunteer coach for the Augsburg cross country and track and field teams. In 2014, Arnold became an assistant coach for the cross country team, and became a graduate fellow for the cross country team in 2015.  Running Career/Achievements: Arnold was a member of the Augsburg cross country and track and field teams from 2008­ to 2012. In cross country, he captained the teams in 2011 and in 2012. On the track, Arnold was a flexible runner competing at everything between 100 to 800 meters. He is on several of Augsburg's all­-time performance lists, including the indoor 400-meter dash (No. 2), outdoor sprint medley relay (No. 2), outdoor 200-meter dash (No. 3), and outdoor 400-meter dash (No. 3). To go along with several All­-MIAC Honorable Mention honors over his career, he has also been a MIAC champion in the 4x200-meter relay and earned MIAC Athlete of the Week honors. Arnold set two school records during his career, a 1:23.41 time in the indoor 600m dash and a 1:29.77 time in the indoor 4x200-meter relay (still standing). Personal Best Times: 100 meters -- 11.64 200 meters -- 21.93 400 meters -- 48.92 600 meters -- 1:23.41 800 meters -- 2:00.64 5,000 meters -- 16:06 8,000 meters -- 26:36 Marathon -- 2:50.57

Peyton (Iowa '08, Augsburg '14 MAL) will enter her third season as head coach for Augsburg men's and women's cross country teams in 2016. She served as interim head coach in the 2014 campaign, and was named head coach in the summer of 2015. A four-time NCAA All-American, Peyton also serves as an assistant coach for the Augsburg men's and women's track and field teams, a position she has held since 2010.  During her years at Augsburg, Peyton has qualified two entrants to the NCAA Division III National Championships. Two athletes have earned NCAA All-American honors, 14 athletes have earned All-MIAC honors and six have earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors under her coaching.  Peyton previously served as a graduate fellow at Augsburg while earning her master's degree in leadership. Previous Coaching Experience: Before being named cross country head coach, Peyton had spent the previous four seasons as an assistant coach with the Augsburg cross country and track and field teams. Running Career/Acheivements: Peyton competed in track and cross country at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. The four-time NCAA Division I All American was the 2008 Big Ten champion in both the indoor 3,000 meters and the outdoor 10,000 meters. She also holds the Iowa school record in the 1,500 meters of 4:17.41. Additional collegiate achievements include a best of 33:28.00 in the 10,000 meters and a sixth-place finish in the 10,000m at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Peyton was also the recipient of the 2008 Big Ten Medal of Honor -- which is awarded to one student athlete from each member institution for excellence both academics and athletics.  After graduating in the spring of 2008, Peyton joined Team USA Minnesota in Minneapolis. Since joining the squad, she has been a member of four USA national teams, competed at the 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and won the USA 20K national championship. She still trains with team USA Minnesota with the goal of making future World Championship and Olympic teams.  Personal Best Times: 1,500m: 4:17.4 Mile: 4:40.5 3,000m: 9:17.0 5,000m: 15:41.1 10,000m: 32:59.11 15,000m: 51:18 10-mile: 55:09 Half-marathon: 1:13.43 Marathon: 2:38.57 Personal/Family Notes: A native of Tualatin, Ore., Peyton and her husband Cole reside in Bloomington, Minn.

Chris Dixon (Minnesota '04) enters his seventh year on the Augsburg University men’s and women’s track and field coaching staff and his fifth year as head coach during the 2025-26 season. Since taking over the program, Dixon has prioritized intentional athlete development, inclusive team culture, and long-term success both on and off the track. At Augsburg University Under Dixon's leadership as head coach, Augsburg student-athletes have earned nine Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, produced four NCAA Division III National Championships qualifiers, and achieved two NCAA All-America honors. As head coach, his athletes have earned 17 All-MIAC (top three) and 18 All-MIAC Honorable Mention (places 4-6) honors. As an assistant coach (2019-21), Auggie athletes earned one NCAA national qualifier, one MIAC championship, three All-MIAC honors and two All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors. His coaching philosophy centers on meeting athletes where they are, developing them through individualized training, and creating an environment that fosters confidence, accountability, and competitive excellence.   In addition to his role as head coach, Dixon serves as an Assistant Athletic Director and Augsburg’s Director of Athletic Diversity and Inclusion. Through this position -- supported by the NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women’s Grant Program and an NCAA Strategic Alliance Matching Grant (2021) -- he works to ensure that student-athletes feel supported, valued, and empowered within the athletic department and university community. Professional Experience Dixon brings nearly two decades of experience in health, fitness, and performance development. A Twin Cities-based health and fitness education and wellness consultant, he has founded and led several organizations, including Insider Training, Inc., Fitness and Sports Training LLC, and the nonprofit Health Is Love. His background allows him to take a holistic approach to coaching that integrates performance training, injury prevention, wellness, and leadership development. He holds professional certifications from the American Council on Exercise, American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and USA Track & Field. As an entrepreneur, Dixon has been honored by the Dakota Country Regional Chamber of Commerce, was awarded a Buckman Fellowship for Leadership in Philanthropy and was selected as a "Rising Alumni" by the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development in 2014. Playing Experience/Achievements A former University of Minnesota track and field student-athlete, Dixon competed as a horizontal jumper for the Gophers and qualified provisionally for the NCAA Championships in the triple jump. He currently stands fourth in Minnesota history in the indoor triple jump (15.70 meters/51 feet-6.25) and eighth in the outdoor triple jump (15.55 meters/51-feet-0.25). Personal Notes He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management (2004) and Master of Education degree in Applied Kinesiology-Sport and Exercise Science (2005) from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.   Dixon is committed to building a program where athletes are developed as competitors, leaders, and people -- preparing them for success in championship environments and in life beyond sport.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Nick Larson, who has served as a distance running coach at both the high school and collegiate levels in the Midwest, joined the Augsburg University coaching staff in 2021 as men's and women's cross country head coach. In addition to his duties in cross country, Larson also serves as an assistant coach for the men's and women's track and field teams, focusing on the distance runners.   Prior to coming to Augsburg, Larson served for three seasons as an assistant coach for the cross country and track and field teams at Saint Mary's University. From 2015 to 2018, he was a volunteer assistant coach for women's cross country and track and field at the University of Minnesota.   At Saint Mary's (2018-21), Larson designed and implemented training plans, was responsible for recruiting distance runners, and helped to maintain the teams' social media accounts, among other duties. Larson said that the Cardinals’ staff “laid the groundwork for the future by establishing a strong culture of team and family that included a tremendous amount of athlete buy-in, which led to many lifetime best performances. Also, I'm proud of how our team persevered through a very challenging 2020-21 year.”   As a volunteer assistant coach at Minnesota, Larson was part of a women's cross country squad that finished in the top four in both Big Ten and NCAA Midwest Regional competition each of his three seasons (2015-17). The Gophers finished fourth in Big Ten team competition in both 2015 and 2016, while finishing as conference runner-up in 2017, behind meet runner-up Madeline Strandemo. The Gophers finished 18th at the NCAA National Championships in 2016 and 19th in 2017. Minnesota had eight All-Big Ten and eight All-Region honorees during Larson's coaching tenure in cross country.   The Gophers finished in the top four in Big Ten indoor and outdoor track and field competition in each of his three seasons on the coaching staff (2016-18), including sweeping the indoor and outdoor conference titles in 2018. Larson helped to coach four Big Ten titlists, more than 60 Big Ten scorers and more than 20 national qualifiers.   From 2006 to 2011, Larson served as head coach for girls' track and field at Onalaska (Wis.) High School, then served in the same role at Shakopee (Minn.) High School from 2011 to 2015. He was also a cross country assistant coach at Onalaska from 2004 to 2010. Larson was voted Mississippi Valley Conference Girls' Track and Field Coach of the Year in 2009, when his Onalaska team won the league title. He also taught social studies, history, economics and psychology during his high school years.   Larson earned his bachelor's degree in education and social studies from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2008, and his master's degree in education, teaching and learning from Saint Mary's in 2014. He holds USA Track and Field Level I Coaching certification, USTFCCCA Endurance Event Specialist and Track & Field Technical Coaching certification, and ALTIS Coaching the Endurance Events and Coaching the Short Sprints certification.