St. John's University Men's Cross Country

Joe Vardas is in his 29th season at Saint John's in 2026-27.  He was named  the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) Central Region Indoor Men's Assistant Coach of the Year in 2020 and has helped SJU to seven total MIAC Championships (one indoor, six outdoor). Vardas graduated from St. Cloud State University (SCSU) in 1994, where he competed in the jumps and sprints. Vardas completed his master's degree in exercise physiology from SCSU in 1997 and has been an assistant coach at SJU since 1999.  His scientific background and thorough understanding of technique make him an outstanding jumps, sprints and javelin coach.  Vardas is a level II USA Track and Field certified coach in the jumps and is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Vardas has coached athletes to school records in the long jump, triple jump, javelin, 4x100m and 4x400m relays during his tenure. Saint John's has produced 17 All-Americans in the long and triple jumps, and javelin, since his arrival and one of his protégés, Tom Engwall, qualified for the 2004 Olympic Trials in the javelin. Joe and his wife, Shannon, live in nearby St. Cloud.

Miles, who also serves the track and field program as an assistant coach.  Miles graduated from Saint John's in 1976 and received his master's degree in forestry from the University of Minnesota in 1979. Miles' cross country program has finished among the MIAC's top two squads in 24 of the past 38 seasons, including nine MIAC titles (1981, 1982, 1983, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2006 and 2007). He has had 22 cross country teams qualify for the national meet, with 17 recording top-15 finishes. As an athlete at Saint John's, Miles was an All-MIAC performer in cross country and the MIAC six-mile run champion and steeplechase runner-up on the track as a senior in 1976. Miles returned to Saint John's in 1979 as head coach of the cross country and track and field programs. He produced a winning track and field program that finished among the MIAC's top two squads in 23 of the 36 seasons from 1980-2015, including MIAC championships in 1997, 1999, 2005, 2007 and 2011. Miles won MIAC Coach of the Year honors in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2011. At the national level, Miles' athletes put together 61 Division III All-America performances. Miles is a resident of nearby St. Joseph. Tim Miles' Coaching Record at Saint John's   Tim Miles Head Cross Country Coach/Assistant Track and Field Coach Contact Information Office: The 2016 cross country season is the 38th as head coach for Tim Miles, who also serves the track and field program as an assistant coach.  Miles graduated from Saint John's in 1976 and received his master's degree in forestry from the University of Minnesota in 1979. Miles' cross country program has finished among the MIAC's top two squads in 24 of the past 38 seasons, including nine MIAC titles (1981, 1982, 1983, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2006 and 2007). He has had 22 cross country teams qualify for the national meet, with 17 recording top-15 finishes. As an athlete at Saint John's, Miles was an All-MIAC performer in cross country and the MIAC six-mile run champion and steeplechase runner-up on the track as a senior in 1976. Miles returned to Saint John's in 1979 as head coach of the cross country and track and field programs. He produced a winning track and field program that finished among the MIAC's top two squads in 23 of the 36 seasons from 1980-2015, including MIAC championships in 1997, 1999, 2005, 2007 and 2011. Miles won MIAC Coach of the Year honors in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2011. At the national level, Miles' athletes put together 61 Division III All-America performances. Miles is a resident of nearby St. Joseph. Tim Miles' Coaching Record at Saint John's   Miles is a resident of nearby St. Joseph. Tim Miles' Coaching Record at Saint John's