Concordia University Chicago Men's Track

Kopinski is in his third year as head coach for mens and womens track and field at Concordia University Chicago.  Kopinski came to Concordia in the summer of 2013 after 12 years at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago. Among his duties was resurrecting the Scarlet Hawks track and field program in 2003 as a club team after the program had been dormant since the 1970s. The program was later raised to varsity status, and the inaugural season in 2011 resulted in finishes of sixth (men) and seventh (women) places for IIT in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) championships. In subsequent years, Kopinski coached nine individuals in 12 events and one relay team for the NAIA National Championships. Additionally, Kopinski coached IITs first track All-American in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (Abby Jahn, 2012). Kopinski coached cross-country at IIT from the 2003 to 2012 seasons. His legacies in that sport include coaching 27 NAIA National Championship qualifiers and 38 All-CCAC selections, conference womens Runner of the Year in 2008 and 2012, a mens conference championship team in 2004, several placements in the NAIA national team rankings, and IITs first cross-country All-American in Jahn (2012). A 1994 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago with a B.S. in kinesiology, Kopinski worked as a certified athletic trainer for the Winston-Salem Icehawks and Muskegon Fury professional hockey teams as well as the Chicago Rush arena football team. In 2001, Kopinski joined the IIT staff as an ATC and served in that capacity until 2013, along with his later responsibilities as cross-country and track coach. Kopinski brings with him a strong background as a runner. The Chicago native was the number two runner on the 1987 Lane Tech High School team that won the Chicago City Championship. At the collegiate level, he was a member of UICs cross-country and track teams including the 1991 cross-country team that posted the teams best Mid-Continent Conferences finish. Kopinski posted a 12 th place individual finish. As an occasional competitor at cross-county and track meets over the years, along with being a resident of neighboring Forest Park, Kopinski has a familiarity with Concordias campus and its athletic programs. I believe that Concordias track facility is one of the better ones around, and the program itself has made great strides in recent years, said Kopinski who likens his new position to being given the keys to a Mercedes. I believe that all the pieces are in place for Concordia to continue as a great environment for college track and field, adds Kopinski. Having produced 25 NAIA Academic All-Americans at IIT, part of Kopinskis definition for great environment includes the Cougar student-athletes maintaining their commitment to success in the classroom. We certainly want our graduates to look back and say, wow, competing in track was awesome, but at the same time, we want them to look back on the entire college experience and feel a real sense of achievement in every aspect. Kopinski is married to Joan, and the couple has three sons Cooper, Shane and Bryce. Phil Kopinski Head Women's Track & Field Coach Phil Kopinski is in his third year as head coach for mens and womens track and field at Concordia University Chicago.  Kopinski came to Concordia in the summer of 2013 after 12 years at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago. Among his duties was resurrecting the Scarlet Hawks track and field program in 2003 as a club team after the program had been dormant since the 1970s. The program was later raised to varsity status, and the inaugural season in 2011 resulted in finishes of sixth (men) and seventh (women) places for IIT in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) championships. In subsequent years, Kopinski coached nine individuals in 12 events and one relay team for the NAIA National Championships. Additionally, Kopinski coached IITs first track All-American in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (Abby Jahn, 2012). Kopinski coached cross-country at IIT from the 2003 to 2012 seasons. His legacies in that sport include coaching 27 NAIA National Championship qualifiers and 38 All-CCAC selections, conference womens Runner of the Year in 2008 and 2012, a mens conference championship team in 2004, several placements in the NAIA national team rankings, and IITs first cross-country All-American in Jahn (2012). A 1994 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago with a B.S. in kinesiology, Kopinski worked as a certified athletic trainer for the Winston-Salem Icehawks and Muskegon Fury professional hockey teams as well as the Chicago Rush arena football team. In 2001, Kopinski joined the IIT staff as an ATC and served in that capacity until 2013, along with his later responsibilities as cross-country and track coach. Kopinski brings with him a strong background as a runner. The Chicago native was the number two runner on the 1987 Lane Tech High School team that won the Chicago City Championship. At the collegiate level, he was a member of UICs cross-country and track teams including the 1991 cross-country team that posted the teams best Mid-Continent Conferences finish. Kopinski posted a 12 th place individual finish. As an occasional competitor at cross-county and track meets over the years, along with being a resident of neighboring Forest Park, Kopinski has a familiarity with Concordias campus and its athletic programs. I believe that Concordias track facility is one of the better ones around, and the program itself has made great strides in recent years, said Kopinski who likens his new position to being given the keys to a Mercedes. I believe that all the pieces are in place for Concordia to continue as a great environment for college track and field, adds Kopinski. Having produced 25 NAIA Academic All-Americans at IIT, part of Kopinskis definition for great environment includes the Cougar student-athletes maintaining their commitment to success in the classroom. We certainly want our graduates to look back and say, wow, competing in track was awesome, but at the same time, we want them to look back on the entire college experience and feel a real sense of achievement in every aspect. Kopinski is married to Joan, and the couple has three sons Cooper, Shane and Bryce.