Gundlach Named Head Cross Country Coach
Aug 12, 2015
DUBUQUE, Iowa – After serving as the assistant cross country coach over the past four seasons for the University of Dubuque, Geoff Gundlach has been promoted to head cross country coach for the Spartans. Gundlach will remain an assistant track and field coach at UD. Former head cross country coach Chad Gunnelson will continue his tenure as head track and field coach and will be the director of cross country and the track and field programs.
Gundlach, a Madison, Wis. native, has been instrumental in helping produce over 16 cross country runners to Top-25 performances in UD’s history as an assistant coach since 2011. Last season Payton Nevills captured UD’s best individual finish in 14 years at the Iowa Conference Championships and the Spartans notched their best team finish at the IIAC Championships since 1983. The women matched their best team finish ever at the IIAC Championships which witnessed standout Fabiola Ortiz who became just the second Spartan woman to earn First Team All-IIAC honors.
Off the course, both men’s and women’s cross country squads were named USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams. The men posted a 3.21 GPA for their third consecutive award in school history and third overall while the women compiled a 3.55 GPA for their seventh consecutive award. In track and field, Gundlach has helped UD athletes to school records including Ortiz’s 2015 3000 meter steeplechase Iowa Conference outdoor championship in a school record of 11:29.87.
Gundlach competed for the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in both cross country and track and field. As a member of the Titans cross country team from 2004-07, he earned four letters and competed at the Division-III Nationals in 2006, where UW-Oshkosh finished 9th overall. As a member of the Titans track and field team from 2005-2009 he placed in the mile run, 5000 meter run, and distance medley relays at the WIAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships. He was also a member of the 2009 UW-Oshkosh National Indoor and Outdoor Championship teams.
Gundlach welcomes his new appointment as UD’s 19th head coach in cross country, “I’m excited to continue to work with the student-athletes who have made the University of Dubuque an amazing place for me over the last four years.”
Gundlach added, “I’m proud of our student-athletes who represent our cross country programs each day at UD, and look to continue to challenge and push one another to keep improving as student-athlete's and growing as people. Coach Gunnelson has been, and will continue to be a great colleague, mentor, and friend to me and I look forward to our continued efforts to keep improving our programs together.”
The Spartans open up the cross country season on Tuesday, September 1 in Mount Mercy’s 22nd annual Mustang Gallop at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at 6:00 p.m.
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The University of Dubuque, founded in 1852, is a private, coeducational, professional University with a focus in the liberal arts. For additional information, please contact Paul Misner, director of sports information, at 563.589.3168.
