Iowa Wesleyan Relaunching Cross Country With Hiring of Chris Creal
Iowa Wesleyan University is relaunching an NCAA Division III sport adding to the ten represented in IW's athletic arsenal. Cross Country will begin as Chris Creal has been named as the head men's and women's cross country coach effective immediately. Relaunching the University's Cross Country program is a move that is part of the athletic department's comprehensive visioning plan, "Committing to Excellence."
"I am truly grateful to be selected for this position. I have always dreamed of the opportunity to build a program and after being presented the vision of the University and athletic department, I knew that IW was a great fit for me," said Creal on joining the Tiger coaching staff.
"I look forward to being a member of this university and community, but most importantly, I look forward to working with student-athletes to make them successful on and off the track."
Creal brings coaching experience from cross country and track and field to Iowa Wesleyan. Prior to joining the Tigers coaching staff, he served as the head men's cross country and track coach and assistant women's cross country and track and field coach at St. Gregory's University in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
"Tiger Athletics is fortunate to add Chris as a member of the coaching staff", said Director of Athletics, Derek Zander. "This position was the first step in executing the Tiger Athletics Strategic Plan, "Committing to Excellence". Chris has a vision for the Cross Country program and I look forward to watching this program grow and develop." Iowa Wesleyan will start competition in the fall of 2018.
Under his direction at St. Gregory's, Creal coached three individuals to Track and Field National Qualifiers. Fourteen school records were broken by members of his track and field teams, and eight individuals received Daktronics-NAIA Track and Field Scholar-Athlete honors.
A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Creal received his United States Track and Field Level 1 certification in 2012. Creal was a member of the cross country and track and field teams at Dana College and earned Daktronics-Track and Field Scholar-Athlete in 2010 and Daktronics-NAIA Cross Country Scholar-Athlete in 2009 and 2010. After Dana College merged with Midland University, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Sports and Fitness Management Concentration) in May of 2011. Creal received his Master of Arts in Educational Policy and Administration from Dakota Wesleyan University in 2013.
Tiger Athletics: Iowa Wesleyan University strives to provide its student-athletes the opportunity to be successful in life and sports. Engaged in the SLIAC and UMAC Conferences, Tiger athletics is a proud member of NCAA Division III.
STORY COURTESY OF IOWA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
