Mount Mercy College Women's Cross Country

Jimison has coached 15 NAIA all-Americans and two NAIA national champions. There have been 20 individual national qualifiers in 45 events and Mount Mercy has counted 16 NAIA Scholar-Athletes during his tenure. Prior to joining the Mustangs, Jimison served the as head men's and women's track & gield and cross country coach at Union College in Barbourville, Ky. Jimison built both programs from scratch at Union, and in four seasons with the Bulldogs, he had nine NAIA all-Americans and a national champion. He also counted five NAIA Scholar-Athletes during his tenure and was the Appalachian Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2009 after leading Union to the AAC men's outdoor track & field championship. Jimison earned a B.A. in physical education and health from Berea College in Berea, Ky., in 2003. As a four-year member of Bereas track & field and cross country teams, he was a three-time NAIA national meet qualifier for the Mountaineer cross country team and qualified for the NAIA Track & Field National Championships in the steeplechase. After that, he served as an assistant track & field coach with the Mountaineers in 2004. He went on to earn a M.A. in physical education and health from Union in 2008. Jimison currently resides in Cedar Rapids with his wife, Bethany, and their son Jaren. Stephens joined the Mount Mercy coaching staff during 2011-12 campaign after spending a season guiding the sprinters at Lisbon High School. A USATF Level I coach, Stephens has played a key role in the success of the Mustang sprinters, helping them earn four NAIA all-American honors and eight national championship berths in the sprints, relays and combined events. Stephens earned his B.S. in business administration from Wartburg College in 2009. A five-year member of the Knights track & field team, he was an NCAA Division III national qualifier in the 4x400 meter relay and an all-conference performer on three occasions. He went on to earn his M.A. in organization management from Ashford University in 2011. Stephens currently resides in Cedar Rapids. Manuel is in his first year as the Mustang throws coach, but is no stranger to the hill. He was a 2005 graduate of Mount Mercy, earning his B.A. in graphic design. In his three years at Mount Mercy, Manuel was a standout performer, qualifying for the NAIA national championships twice in the weight throw and once in the hammer throw. He set school records in the each of those events, as well as the discus throw and indoor and outdoor shot put. Manuel currently resides in Cedar Rapids.