Minnesota State University-Mankato Men's Track

Dilling was named head coach of the men's track and field program in the summer of 2013. "I am excited to announce Jim Dilling as our new head men's track and field coach," said Kevin Buisman , MSU Director of Athletics. "Jim had an outstanding career here as a student-athlete in the program and, as such, brings with him firsthand knowledge of what it takes to compete at a championship level, both at the conference and national standard. "As Jim is very aware, MSU track and field has a rich and storied tradition and I am sure he will work extremely hard to uphold that legacy and to maintain relations with a strong alumni base that make this program a unique and very special one. I am confident Jim's leadership will ensure a smooth transition and continued success for Maverick track and field." Dilling and his staff wasted no time planning for the future as the Mavericks recruiting class brought in 13 transfers midway through the season last year in preparation for their 2014-2015 campaign. It included athletes from not only the surrounding states but California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Montana, and the Bahamas. Five former NCAA Division I student-athletes now called Minnesota State their home in the first year as well as several Junior College, and NCAA DII & DIII student-athletes who were drawn to the appeal of not only the track programs success but the over 140 academic majors offered by the university making the transfer process appealing for many. The 2014 freshman class brought in state champions and state runner-ups who will make an instant impact in events that were left open last season. Dilling's Honors 2 (2013-14, 2014-15) 1 (2014) 2 (2013-14, 2014-15) In Dillings first year as head coach, the Maverick track and field team saw their highest national team finish in over 25 years placing fourth at the 2014 Indoor Track and Field National Championships last March in Winston-Salem, NC. The outdoor season was also full of success as the Mavericks tied the programs highest national team outdoor finish with an eighth place finish at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships last May in Grand Rapids, Mich. At the conference level, the Mavericks continued their reign of dominance in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) as they secured their sixth straight conference championship claiming both the indoor and outdoor conference titles in 2012, 2013, & 2014 and have won the last 10 out of 12 overall conference titles since joining the NSIC in 2009. At the conclusion of the 2013-2014 season the Mavericks, claimed 15 All-American honors, four National runner-ups, and one National Champion, en route to breaking seven school records. The Maverick men swept the NSIC outdoor awards starting with senior Jerrell Hancock who was crowned the after ending his career with personal bests in the 60m - 6.77, 100m - 10.37, 200m - 20.49, 400m 47.44 and leaving with a trio of school records and 10 All-American honors in his time with the Mavericks. Senior Chris Reed took home the award after winning his second National Championship in the shot put at the 2014 Outdoor Track and Field National Championships on his way to becoming a 10-time All-American and school record holder in five events including his DII National Record of 65 10.25 in the shot put. Freshman Myles Hunter was given the award as he won both the indoor and outdoor NSIC hurdle crowns as well as finishing as the runner-up at the 2014 Outdoor Track and Field National Championships with a time of 13.96 in the 110m hurdles. Junior Nathan Hancock continued the tradition in the combined events as he won the NSIC Heptathlon title and came back to score in 4 additional events for a 21 point contribution towards the team title indoors and added 24 points outdoors scoring in 5 additional events after winning the Decathlon crown. The Maverick combined event groups have won the past three NSIC Decathlon titles as well as the previous two Heptathlon titles in 2013 & 2014 as well as placing five in the top six at the 2012 Indoor NSIC Heptathlon scoring a combined 26 points. Hancock would go onto finishing as the runner-up at the 2014 Indoor Track and Field National Championships with a school record setting display of 5,449 points in the Heptathlon achieving his fourth All-American award of his career.   At the NSIC Indoor conference championship meet the Mavericks won nine individual events as well as went onto set meet records in two events, winning the team championship by 67 points. Chris Reed (Sr) set the NSIC meet record in the shot put with a toss of 63 11 and David Pearcill (Sr) captured the other when he jumped 49 0.75 to win the triple jump. The Mavericks continued their record breaking season at the NSIC Outdoor conference championship meet where they won 10 individual events and winning the team championship by 48 points. Leading the charge was a clean sweep of the 110m hurdles by capturing the top 4 places and scoring 29 points as well as scoring a dominate 30 points in the triple jump by placing 5 in the top 7 including a 1-2-3 finish in the event. The Maverick jumpers went onto showcase their abilities during the 2013-2014 season by scoring 48 points at the NSIC Indoor Championships and 53 points at the NSIC Outdoor Championships. 2014-15 Dilling's second campaign as head coach went down a similar path as the first.  The team saw three school-records and one national record set as Emmanuel Matadi set new standards in the 60-meter dash of 6.66 and the 200-meters of 21.10.  Sophomore Myles Hunter set the school and Division II National Record in the 60-meter hurdles at 7.64.  Both Matadi and Hunter shared time as .  Matadi and Nathan Hancock brought home all-american honors from the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships held in Birmingham, Ala.  The Mavericks secured their fourth straight NSIC Indoor Championships finishing with 163 points. Assistant Coach Resume In his time as an assistant coach with the Mavericks (2011-2013) Dilling helped coached several All-Americans including high jumper Keyvan Rudd, who established a personal best height of 71 ¾ in 2012 as well as two-consecutive NSIC titles and the NSIC league record in the high jump during the 2012-2013 season. David Pearcill also finished as the 2012 NSIC indoor champion in the triple jump and runner-up in the 2013 NSIC Outdoor Championships. Dillings jumpers totaled a NSIC Conference record at the time of 41.50 points in the high, long, & triple jump events as they went onto score a team total of 207.50 points winning the NSIC Indoor Championships by 96.5 points. The Mavericks finished fifth at the 2013 NCAA Division II Championships in Birmingham, Ala. which was the highest finish by a Minnesota State track & field team since Dilling was a team member during the teams fifth place finish at the 2006 Indoor NCAA Division II Championships held in Boston, Mass. Competitive History   As a student-athlete, Dilling racked up four national championships in the high jump, including two at both the indoor (2006 & 2007) and outdoor (2005 & 2007) national meets as well as a six-time All-American in the event (2nd at 2005 indoor & 3rd at 2006 outdoor). He was also a four-time North Central Conference outdoor champion and a three-time indoor champion and also a two-time NCC outdoor champion in the long jump. He finished just out of All-American status in the long jump placing ninth (season best of 23'9 1/4" at the 2006 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships minutes after setting the NCAA Division II high jump meet record of 7'6".      He left Minnesota State owning the school records in both the indoor (76 ½) and outdoor (76 ½) high jump as well as the NCC indoor record (76 ½) and outdoor record (76 ½). Dilling was a 15-time and was named both the and the in 2007. Following his college career, Dilling was the 2007 USA Track & Field High Jump Champion and represented Team USA at the IAAF World Track & Field Championships in Oasaka, Japan, where he finished 16th in qualifying. His record setting season left him finishing the year ranked fourth in the US and 19th in the world. Dilling was a five-time USA Outdoor Championships qualifier  including appearances in the past two Olympic Trials and was a five-time Indoor Championships qualifier  . His five-year professional high jump career led him to competitions throughout Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean and will be an extremely valuable asset in his efforts to begin a more international-based recruiting initiative for the Mavericks track and field program.        Dilling, a native of Fond du Lac, Wis., graduated with his Bachelor of Science from Minnesota State in 2007 and completed his Master of Arts in Sports Management in 2013. He also earned his USTFCCCA Coaching Certification as a Jumping Event Specialist in the same year.      Jim Dilling Head Coach, Men's & Women's Track and Field Jumps & Multi Former Minnesota State student-athlete and assistant jumps / combined events coach Jim Dilling was named head coach of the men's track and field program in the summer of 2013. "I am excited to announce Jim Dilling as our new head men's track and field coach," said Kevin Buisman , MSU Director of Athletics. "Jim had an outstanding career here as a student-athlete in the program and, as such, brings with him firsthand knowledge of what it takes to compete at a championship level, both at the conference and national standard. "As Jim is very aware, MSU track and field has a rich and storied tradition and I am sure he will work extremely hard to uphold that legacy and to maintain relations with a strong alumni base that make this program a unique and very special one. I am confident Jim's leadership will ensure a smooth transition and continued success for Maverick track and field." Dilling and his staff wasted no time planning for the future as the Mavericks recruiting class brought in 13 transfers midway through the season last year in preparation for their 2014-2015 campaign. It included athletes from not only the surrounding states but California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Montana, and the Bahamas. Five former NCAA Division I student-athletes now called Minnesota State their home in the first year as well as several Junior College, and NCAA DII & DIII student-athletes who were drawn to the appeal of not only the track programs success but the over 140 academic majors offered by the university making the transfer process appealing for many. The 2014 freshman class brought in state champions and state runner-ups who will make an instant impact in events that were left open last season. Dilling's Honors 2 (2013-14, 2014-15) 1 (2014) 2 (2013-14, 2014-15) In Dillings first year as head coach, the Maverick track and field team saw their highest national team finish in over 25 years placing fourth at the 2014 Indoor Track and Field National Championships last March in Winston-Salem, NC. The outdoor season was also full of success as the Mavericks tied the programs highest national team outdoor finish with an eighth place finish at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships last May in Grand Rapids, Mich. At the conference level, the Mavericks continued their reign of dominance in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) as they secured their sixth straight conference championship claiming both the indoor and outdoor conference titles in 2012, 2013, & 2014 and have won the last 10 out of 12 overall conference titles since joining the NSIC in 2009. At the conclusion of the 2013-2014 season the Mavericks, claimed 15 All-American honors, four National runner-ups, and one National Champion, en route to breaking seven school records. The Maverick men swept the NSIC outdoor awards starting with senior Jerrell Hancock who was crowned the after ending his career with personal bests in the 60m - 6.77, 100m - 10.37, 200m - 20.49, 400m 47.44 and leaving with a trio of school records and 10 All-American honors in his time with the Mavericks. Senior Chris Reed took home the award after winning his second National Championship in the shot put at the 2014 Outdoor Track and Field National Championships on his way to becoming a 10-time All-American and school record holder in five events including his DII National Record of 65 10.25 in the shot put. Freshman Myles Hunter was given the award as he won both the indoor and outdoor NSIC hurdle crowns as well as finishing as the runner-up at the 2014 Outdoor Track and Field National Championships with a time of 13.96 in the 110m hurdles. Junior Nathan Hancock continued the tradition in the combined events as he won the NSIC Heptathlon title and came back to score in 4 additional events for a 21 point contribution towards the team title indoors and added 24 points outdoors scoring in 5 additional events after winning the Decathlon crown. The Maverick combined event groups have won the past three NSIC Decathlon titles as well as the previous two Heptathlon titles in 2013 & 2014 as well as placing five in the top six at the 2012 Indoor NSIC Heptathlon scoring a combined 26 points. Hancock would go onto finishing as the runner-up at the 2014 Indoor Track and Field National Championships with a school record setting display of 5,449 points in the Heptathlon achieving his fourth All-American award of his career.   At the NSIC Indoor conference championship meet the Mavericks won nine individual events as well as went onto set meet records in two events, winning the team championship by 67 points. Chris Reed (Sr) set the NSIC meet record in the shot put with a toss of 63 11 and David Pearcill (Sr) captured the other when he jumped 49 0.75 to win the triple jump. The Mavericks continued their record breaking season at the NSIC Outdoor conference championship meet where they won 10 individual events and winning the team championship by 48 points. Leading the charge was a clean sweep of the 110m hurdles by capturing the top 4 places and scoring 29 points as well as scoring a dominate 30 points in the triple jump by placing 5 in the top 7 including a 1-2-3 finish in the event. The Maverick jumpers went onto showcase their abilities during the 2013-2014 season by scoring 48 points at the NSIC Indoor Championships and 53 points at the NSIC Outdoor Championships. 2014-15 Dilling's second campaign as head coach went down a similar path as the first.  The team saw three school-records and one national record set as Emmanuel Matadi set new standards in the 60-meter dash of 6.66 and the 200-meters of 21.10.  Sophomore Myles Hunter set the school and Division II National Record in the 60-meter hurdles at 7.64.  Both Matadi and Hunter shared time as .  Matadi and Nathan Hancock brought home all-american honors from the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships held in Birmingham, Ala.  The Mavericks secured their fourth straight NSIC Indoor Championships finishing with 163 points. Assistant Coach Resume In his time as an assistant coach with the Mavericks (2011-2013) Dilling helped coached several All-Americans including high jumper Keyvan Rudd, who established a personal best height of 71 ¾ in 2012 as well as two-consecutive NSIC titles and the NSIC league record in the high jump during the 2012-2013 season. David Pearcill also finished as the 2012 NSIC indoor champion in the triple jump and runner-up in the 2013 NSIC Outdoor Championships. Dillings jumpers totaled a NSIC Conference record at the time of 41.50 points in the high, long, & triple jump events as they went onto score a team total of 207.50 points winning the NSIC Indoor Championships by 96.5 points. The Mavericks finished fifth at the 2013 NCAA Division II Championships in Birmingham, Ala. which was the highest finish by a Minnesota State track & field team since Dilling was a team member during the teams fifth place finish at the 2006 Indoor NCAA Division II Championships held in Boston, Mass. Competitive History   As a student-athlete, Dilling racked up four national championships in the high jump, including two at both the indoor (2006 & 2007) and outdoor (2005 & 2007) national meets as well as a six-time All-American in the event (2nd at 2005 indoor & 3rd at 2006 outdoor). He was also a four-time North Central Conference outdoor champion and a three-time indoor champion and also a two-time NCC outdoor champion in the long jump. He finished just out of All-American status in the long jump placing ninth (season best of 23'9 1/4" at the 2006 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships minutes after setting the NCAA Division II high jump meet record of 7'6".      He left Minnesota State owning the school records in both the indoor (76 ½) and outdoor (76 ½) high jump as well as the NCC indoor record (76 ½) and outdoor record (76 ½). Dilling was a 15-time and was named both the and the in 2007. Following his college career, Dilling was the 2007 USA Track & Field High Jump Champion and represented Team USA at the IAAF World Track & Field Championships in Oasaka, Japan, where he finished 16th in qualifying. His record setting season left him finishing the year ranked fourth in the US and 19th in the world. Dilling was a five-time USA Outdoor Championships qualifier  including appearances in the past two Olympic Trials and was a five-time Indoor Championships qualifier  . His five-year professional high jump career led him to competitions throughout Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean and will be an extremely valuable asset in his efforts to begin a more international-based recruiting initiative for the Mavericks track and field program.        Dilling, a native of Fond du Lac, Wis., graduated with his Bachelor of Science from Minnesota State in 2007 and completed his Master of Arts in Sports Management in 2013. He also earned his USTFCCCA Coaching Certification as a Jumping Event Specialist in the same year.     

Parno enters his fifth season with the Mavericks as an assistant for both the men and womens track and field programs. Parno directly coaches the men's and women's sprint/hurdle groups, while serving as the recruiting coordinator. During the 2016 outdoor season, Parno guided the mavericks to 6 first team All-American awards. On the mens side Junior Myles Hunter won his second National title on the year in the 110h with a season best of 13.60, also surpassing his previous school record in the event. The quartet of Geno Bullard, Richard Wilhite, Myles Hunter and Paul Selman captured All-American honors with a time of 40.40 in the 4x100m relay, this time puts them at #3 on the MSU all-time list. On the womens side, Altoniece Williams captured 3rd at the national meet with a season best of 13.51 gaining her second All-American award on the year and bettering her previous school record.  At the conference level his Maverick sprinters and hurdlers dominated, the men pouring in 82 team points while the women amassed 90 of the team points.  Both genders captured team titles capping the indoor and outdoor season title sweep.                                                           During the 2015-16 indoor season, Parno was named the USTFCCCA Indoor Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Under his guidance the Maverick sprinters and hurdlers garnered 3 first team All-Americans and 2 second team All-Americans.  Myles Hunter was named USTFCCCA Central Region Athlete of the Year while smashing the national record in the 60m hurdles in a time of 7.53.  Myles broke the national record by 11 tenths of a second and was the fastest 60m hurdlers across all NCAA divisions in 2016. Hunter now owns a top 10 spot in the history of the collegiate event.  Along with Hunter, Kyran Stewart brought home All-American honors in the 200m (21.16) and 60m (6.75) and Richard Wilhite in the 200m (21.79). On the womens side Altoniece Williams was National Runner-up in the 60m hurdles (8.36) bringing home her first All-American honor.  On the conference level the sprint/hurdle groups led both team conference championship performances with 86 points coming out of the mens group and 69 point out of the womens groups.  His groups broke 3 school records including the mens and women 60m hurdles, mens 600m as well as two conference records in both 60m hurdle events. During the 2015 outdoor season, Parno was named the USTFCCCA Outdoor Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year. While boasting some of the nations best sprinters, Parno guided the mavericks to 9 All-American honors in the mens 4x100m, 100m and 200m. Emmanuel Matadi was named USTFCCCA Central Region Athlete of the Year en route to winning national titles in both the 100m (10.19) and 200m (20.54). Also, Kyran Stewert captured All-American honors in the 100m (10.35) and 200m (20.86), Myles Hunter in the 110m Hurdles (13.80) and the 4x100m relay (40.15). At the conference level, his mens sprinters and hurdlers garnered 95 of 202.5 team points while the women turned in 37 of 76 team points scored at the NSIC Championships. His groups broke four school records including the mens 100m, 110m hurdles, 4x100m and the womens: 4x200m. The mens 4x100m team not only broke a school record, but also brought home the 2015 Drake Relays title in that event. During the 2014-15 indoor season, Parno was named the USTFCCCA Indoor Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Through his guidance, three sprint or hurdle records were broke during the season including one all-time national record. Emmanuel Matadi set new marks in the 60-meter dash (6.66) and in the 200-meters (21.10). Myles Hunter set both school and division II all-time national records in the 60-meter hurdles (7.64). Matadi and Nathan Hancock both secured All-American honors as well. Prior to Minnesota State, Parno spent two years as an assistant track and field coach at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD., where he coached both men and womens sprint, hurdle and jump groups. At Augustana, Parno was part of the staff that helped the Vikings return to the top of the Northern Sun Conference in both cross-country and track & field (men and women cross-country champions 11, 12, womens track & field 11). On the national level, the Vikings won titles in both the 2011 womens XC championships, and the 2012 indoor track and field championships in the mens distance medley relay.  In his two years on staff, Augustana runners broke 40 school records, produced 11 XC All-Americans, 29 track and field All-Americans, and 62 track and field national provisional and automatic marks.   A native of River Falls, Wis., Parno is a former member of the University of Minnesota-Duluth track and field team from 2005-2010. While with the Bulldogs, he earned All-North Central (NCC) & Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) honors seven times and captured the NSIC title in the 400-meter hurdles as a senior. Parno also competed in the heptathlon (2009 conference runner-up), decathlon (2012 conference runner-up) and 4x400-meter relay. Parno earned bachelor's degrees in physical education and health education from UMD in 2010 and his master's degree in sports administration and leadership from Augustana in 2012.      Coaching Certifications: -USATF Level 1 Certification (2011) -USATF Level 2 Sprint/Hurdle/Relays Certification (2015) -USATF Level 2 Jumps Certification (2016) -USATF Emerging Elite Sprints/Hurdle/Relay Clinic (2014) -USTFCCCA Technical Certification (2011) -USTFCCCA Track and Field Program Management Certification (2013) -USTFCCCA Sprint, Hurdle, and Relay Event Specialist (2013) -USTFCCCA Combined Events Specialist (2014) -USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning Advanced Endorsement (2015) -USTFCCCA Short Sprints Masters Endorsement (apprenticeship in progress) Coaching Honors:  -2015-2016 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year Central Region -2015 USTFCCCA Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year  Central Region -2014-2015 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year  Central Region Chris Parno Assistant Head Men's & Women's Track and Field Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Sprints & Hurdles Chris Parno enters his fifth season with the Mavericks as an assistant for both the men and womens track and field programs. Parno directly coaches the men's and women's sprint/hurdle groups, while serving as the recruiting coordinator. During the 2016 outdoor season, Parno guided the mavericks to 6 first team All-American awards. On the mens side Junior Myles Hunter won his second National title on the year in the 110h with a season best of 13.60, also surpassing his previous school record in the event. The quartet of Geno Bullard, Richard Wilhite, Myles Hunter and Paul Selman captured All-American honors with a time of 40.40 in the 4x100m relay, this time puts them at #3 on the MSU all-time list. On the womens side, Altoniece Williams captured 3rd at the national meet with a season best of 13.51 gaining her second All-American award on the year and bettering her previous school record.  At the conference level his Maverick sprinters and hurdlers dominated, the men pouring in 82 team points while the women amassed 90 of the team points.  Both genders captured team titles capping the indoor and outdoor season title sweep.                                                           During the 2015-16 indoor season, Parno was named the USTFCCCA Indoor Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Under his guidance the Maverick sprinters and hurdlers garnered 3 first team All-Americans and 2 second team All-Americans.  Myles Hunter was named USTFCCCA Central Region Athlete of the Year while smashing the national record in the 60m hurdles in a time of 7.53.  Myles broke the national record by 11 tenths of a second and was the fastest 60m hurdlers across all NCAA divisions in 2016. Hunter now owns a top 10 spot in the history of the collegiate event.  Along with Hunter, Kyran Stewart brought home All-American honors in the 200m (21.16) and 60m (6.75) and Richard Wilhite in the 200m (21.79). On the womens side Altoniece Williams was National Runner-up in the 60m hurdles (8.36) bringing home her first All-American honor.  On the conference level the sprint/hurdle groups led both team conference championship performances with 86 points coming out of the mens group and 69 point out of the womens groups.  His groups broke 3 school records including the mens and women 60m hurdles, mens 600m as well as two conference records in both 60m hurdle events. During the 2015 outdoor season, Parno was named the USTFCCCA Outdoor Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year. While boasting some of the nations best sprinters, Parno guided the mavericks to 9 All-American honors in the mens 4x100m, 100m and 200m. Emmanuel Matadi was named USTFCCCA Central Region Athlete of the Year en route to winning national titles in both the 100m (10.19) and 200m (20.54). Also, Kyran Stewert captured All-American honors in the 100m (10.35) and 200m (20.86), Myles Hunter in the 110m Hurdles (13.80) and the 4x100m relay (40.15). At the conference level, his mens sprinters and hurdlers garnered 95 of 202.5 team points while the women turned in 37 of 76 team points scored at the NSIC Championships. His groups broke four school records including the mens 100m, 110m hurdles, 4x100m and the womens: 4x200m. The mens 4x100m team not only broke a school record, but also brought home the 2015 Drake Relays title in that event. During the 2014-15 indoor season, Parno was named the USTFCCCA Indoor Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Through his guidance, three sprint or hurdle records were broke during the season including one all-time national record. Emmanuel Matadi set new marks in the 60-meter dash (6.66) and in the 200-meters (21.10). Myles Hunter set both school and division II all-time national records in the 60-meter hurdles (7.64). Matadi and Nathan Hancock both secured All-American honors as well. Prior to Minnesota State, Parno spent two years as an assistant track and field coach at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD., where he coached both men and womens sprint, hurdle and jump groups. At Augustana, Parno was part of the staff that helped the Vikings return to the top of the Northern Sun Conference in both cross-country and track & field (men and women cross-country champions 11, 12, womens track & field 11). On the national level, the Vikings won titles in both the 2011 womens XC championships, and the 2012 indoor track and field championships in the mens distance medley relay.  In his two years on staff, Augustana runners broke 40 school records, produced 11 XC All-Americans, 29 track and field All-Americans, and 62 track and field national provisional and automatic marks.   A native of River Falls, Wis., Parno is a former member of the University of Minnesota-Duluth track and field team from 2005-2010. While with the Bulldogs, he earned All-North Central (NCC) & Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) honors seven times and captured the NSIC title in the 400-meter hurdles as a senior. Parno also competed in the heptathlon (2009 conference runner-up), decathlon (2012 conference runner-up) and 4x400-meter relay. Parno earned bachelor's degrees in physical education and health education from UMD in 2010 and his master's degree in sports administration and leadership from Augustana in 2012.      Coaching Certifications: -USATF Level 1 Certification (2011) -USATF Level 2 Sprint/Hurdle/Relays Certification (2015) -USATF Level 2 Jumps Certification (2016) -USATF Emerging Elite Sprints/Hurdle/Relay Clinic (2014) -USTFCCCA Technical Certification (2011) -USTFCCCA Track and Field Program Management Certification (2013) -USTFCCCA Sprint, Hurdle, and Relay Event Specialist (2013) -USTFCCCA Combined Events Specialist (2014) -USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning Advanced Endorsement (2015) -USTFCCCA Short Sprints Masters Endorsement (apprenticeship in progress) Coaching Honors:  -2015-2016 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year Central Region -2015 USTFCCCA Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year  Central Region -2014-2015 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year  Central Region

Ahonen begins his third season as the head coach of the Minnesota State mens cross country team. He also serves as an assistant coach to the men's track and field team coaching middle distance and distance athletes on the track.   In 2014, the Mavericks improved substantially from the 2013 cross country campaign. Earning their first USTFCCCA Regional Ranking under Ahonens tutelage, the Mavericks wrapped up their season by gathering a fourth place finish at the NSIC Championship, only six points out of third, and an eighth place finish at the NCAA Central Region Championship. Individually Josiah Swanson earned his second All-Region cross country honor by securing 19th place with a time of 32:20 over the hilly 10k course in Wayne, Neb.   On the track, the Maverick distance men have also excelled. During his first two seasons at Minnesota State, Ahonen has coached one individual NSIC Champion (Matt Stocker 2014 Indoor 1000m), one runner-up (Victor Bowen 2015 Outdoor 800m), and four third place finishes (Zach Gearman 2014 Indoor 600, Matt Stocker 2015 Outdoor 800m, and Austin OBrien 2015 Indoor Mile/Outdoor 1500m). Along with other distance scorers, these finishes produced valuable points in the Mavericks' consecutive sweeps of the NSIC Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2014 and 2015.   On the national level, the Mavs have recorded two NCAA DII Provisional Qualifying marks in the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) in both 2014 and 2015. Individually, Alex Schoneberger (Indoor 800) and Austin OBrien (Indoor 3000m, Outdoor 5000m) have recorded Provisional Qualifying times for the NCAA DII Championships.   Academically, four Maverick distance runners (Jacob Ball, Josiah Swanson, Alex Schoneberger, and Austin OBrien) have earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors. The 2014 Maverick mens cross country team were also a USTFCCCA NCAA DII All-Academic Team on account of their cumulative team GPA.   A native of Temperance, Mich., Ahonen was named the Minnesota State men's cross country head coach in the summer of 2013 after serving as an assistant coach on the Western State cross country/track and field coaching staff the previous two seasons. As an assistant coach at Western State, Ahonen worked with the distance runners and helped develop team and individual training schedules. He also served as an active recruiter and assisted with travel plans.   While coaching at Western State, Ahonen aided the development of 42 All-Americans, five national champions, seven national runners up, one Olympic trials qualifier, a men's cross country national championship and a women's cross country national runner up.   As a student-athlete at Western State, Ahonen amassed seven All-American honors including two in cross country in the 10k event and five in track and field including three in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and two in the distance medley relay. He served as a team captain for the cross country team for three seasons and the track and field team for two seasons. He was also a member of two cross country teams that finished in second place at the NCAA DII Cross Country Meet.   Ahonen graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western State in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in Environmental Studies/Politics and Government. He was the first student-athlete in Western State history to earn a pair of Capital One Academic All-American honors from CoSIDA when he accomplished the feat in 2010 and 2011. He was also a seven-time NCAA Division II All-Academic pick. Ahonen also served as an academic peer advisor where he helped schedule tutoring sessions and offer academic guidance. With the 2015 season, Loren Ahonen begins his third season as the head coach of the Minnesota State mens cross country team. He also serves as an assistant coach to the men's track and field team coaching middle distance and distance athletes on the track.   In 2014, the Mavericks improved substantially from the 2013 cross country campaign. Earning their first USTFCCCA Regional Ranking under Ahonens tutelage, the Mavericks wrapped up their season by gathering a fourth place finish at the NSIC Championship, only six points out of third, and an eighth place finish at the NCAA Central Region Championship. Individually Josiah Swanson earned his second All-Region cross country honor by securing 19 th  place with a time of 32:20 over the hilly 10k course in Wayne, Neb.   On the track, the Maverick distance men have also excelled. During his first two seasons at Minnesota State, Ahonen has coached one individual NSIC Champion (Matt Stocker 2014 Indoor 1000m), one runner-up (Victor Bowen 2015 Outdoor 800m), and four third place finishes (Zach Gearman 2014 Indoor 600, Matt Stocker 2015 Outdoor 800m, and Austin OBrien 2015 Indoor Mile/Outdoor 1500m). Along with other distance scorers, these finishes produced valuable points in the Mavericks' consecutive sweeps of the NSIC Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2014 and 2015.   On the national level, the Mavs have recorded two NCAA DII Provisional Qualifying marks in the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) in both 2014 and 2015. Individually, Alex Schoneberger (Indoor 800) and Austin OBrien (Indoor 3000m, Outdoor 5000m) have recorded Provisional Qualifying times for the NCAA DII Championships.   Academically, four Maverick distance runners (Jacob Ball, Josiah Swanson, Alex Schoneberger, and Austin OBrien) have earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors. The 2014 Maverick mens cross country team were also a USTFCCCA NCAA DII All-Academic Team on account of their cumulative team GPA.   A native of Temperance, Mich., Ahonen was named the Minnesota State men's cross country head coach in the summer of 2013 after serving as an assistant coach on the Western State cross country/track and field coaching staff the previous two seasons. As an assistant coach at Western State, Ahonen worked with the distance runners and helped develop team and individual training schedules. He also served as an active recruiter and assisted with travel plans.   While coaching at Western State, Ahonen aided the development of 42 All-Americans, five national champions, seven national runners up, one Olympic trials qualifier, a men's cross country national championship and a women's cross country national runner up.   As a student-athlete at Western State, Ahonen amassed seven All-American honors including two in cross country in the 10k event and five in track and field including three in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and two in the distance medley relay. He served as a team captain for the cross country team for three seasons and the track and field team for two seasons. He was also a member of two cross country teams that finished in second place at the NCAA DII Cross Country Meet.   Ahonen graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western State in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in Environmental Studies/Politics and Government. He was the first student-athlete in Western State history to earn a pair of Capital One Academic All-American honors from CoSIDA when he accomplished the feat in 2010 and 2011. He was also a seven-time NCAA Division II All-Academic pick. Ahonen also served as an academic peer advisor where he helped schedule tutoring sessions and offer academic guidance.