ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict Athletic Department has announced a restructuring of the coaching staff for the cross country and track and field programs.

Current head cross country/head track and field coach Robin Balder-Lanoue will remain as the head cross country coach and will continue to coach the distance and mid-distance runners for the track and field program as an assistant coach, while the Bennies will begin a national search for a new head track and field coach. The track and field program will also retain its current full-time assistant coach.

"The ability for our cross country and track and field programs to move from a two-person model to a three-person model will be huge for Bennie cross country and track and field, said Saint Benedict Athletic Director Kelly Anderson Diercks. "Coach Robin has been such an incredible leader, mentor and ambassador for both programs for so many years, this addition of a head track and field coach will really allow us to take Bennie cross country and track and field to a new level from both a roster size and competitive standpoint."

A five-time MIAC Coach of the Year, Balder-Lanoue has led the Bennie cross country team to five top-three conference finishes as well as coaching the most decorated student-athlete in school history in Fiona Smith, who went on to be a three-time MIAC and NCAA regional champion. In 2023, Smith became the first Bennie to capture a NCAA cross country national title with a NCAA DIII record of 19:54.1, when she became the first-ever Division III female to break the 20-minute barrier at a NCAA championship. In track and field, Smith was a five-time NCAA national champion and graduated as the NCAA Division III championship record holder in the 3,000 meters with a time of 9:25.62.

"When I was 18 and choosing a college, I chose CSB-SJU for many reasons…a place big enough to have an impact on me and small enough for me to make an impact on it and of course… the people," said Balder-Lanoue.

She continued, "my first year at CSB was the first year we had a track and field team.  We started track and field in spring of 1988. We had 13 women on the team.  I was there when we scored our first point in the conference meet.  It took two years!  I was there when we added our first hurdler and our first jumper and slowly filled all the events. I went on to teach high school math for seven years and ended up coming back as head cross country and track and field coach to see this program continue to grow.  Instead of 13, we had 35 on the team.  Flash forward to the last decade and we have had over 70 on our roster.  Last year, we had more athletes qualify for the conference meet than any other team," she said.

"Our program has grown tremendously over the years – in size, in competitiveness, and in potential. To better support that growth and continue moving in the right direction, we are restructuring our coaching staff to best serve our student-athletes and elevate our overall performance," said Balder-Lanoue. "We are launching a national search for a new head track and field coach – someone who will bring fresh ideas, energy, and leadership to help take our program to the next level. This change will allow us to have three full-time coaches dedicated to our student-athletes – a major step forward in our commitment to their development and success."

As well as being successful on the course and track, CSB's cross country teams have also found success in the classroom. CSB has won 26 straight USTFCCCA All-Academic Team awards dating back to 1998, with 44 individuals honored in that time.

The staff restructuring for the cross country and track and field programs is also accompanied by a facility project, which when completed, will allow the cross country and track and field coaches to have a dedicated office suite in Richarda Hall which will allow them to meet with current and prospective students and their families. Additionally, a space directly across the hall will be dedicated for a team room/locker space for the cross country and track and field student-athletes.

"I am absolutely thrilled for our cross country and track and field programs," added Anderson Diercks. "Coach Robin has done a phenomenal job growing these programs and we now have the opportunity to build on this incredible growth and foundation by expanding our coaching staff to grow our programs and build on our successes."

The search for the new CSB Head Track and Field coach will begin immediately. Interested applicants can apply here:  https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/csbsju/staff/jobs/5076943/head-track-and-field-coach?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs