Sioux Center, Iowa — Dordt University Head Cross Country Coach Nate Wolf was awarded dual honors by the Great Plains Athletic Conference as he was named the 2021 coach of the year for the Defenders’ women’s and men’s programs.
“Nate Wolf does a wonderful job leading our respective cross country teams,” commented Ross Douma, Director of Athletics at Dordt University. “From spiritual development to academic guidance to peaking running performance, Coach Wolf is the consummate coach and Christian mentor. The championships and awards are a byproduct of the excellence that is a trademark of the Defender cross country program. Nate is a leader in our community, across campus, and in the athletic department. He embodies the Defender Way at every turn.”
Wolf, now a five-time recipient of the top coaching honor for the women’s side, led the Defenders to their second straight and eighth conference title in the last 10 years. Dordt totaled 54 points and had eight runners finish among the top 20, led by GPAC runner-up Jessica Kampman.
The Defender women, along with GPAC runner-up Hastings, will represent the conference at the upcoming NAIA National Championship held Friday, Nov. 19 at the Fort Vancouver Historic Site in Vancouver, Wash.
Wolf earned the GPAC honor for the fourth time on the men’s side after leading the Defenders to a record setting performance in winning their fourth consecutive conference title. Wolf’s squad posted a perfect score (15pts), breaking the record for lowest team score at the conference championship (17pts) set by Doane in 1969. Defender runners occupied the top six spots, had seven in the top 10, nine in the top 15 and all 10 among the first 25 to finish the 8K race. Dordt senior Davis Tebben was the individual champion, finishing the course in a time of 25:52.
Like the Defender women’s team, the men qualified for the NAIA National Championship, the lone representative from the GPAC to qualify.
