OTTAWA, Kan. – Ottawa University Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach Jeremy Gathright has announced the hiring of Will VanAlstine as the Braves' Assistant Cross Country and Track & Field Coach.

"I am excited to bring on Coach Will VanAlstine to the Braves Nation," said Gathright. "His knowledge and experience in the distance events and recruiting will be invaluable in the growth and development of our programs and student athletes. He brings a passion for the sport, grit, and winning mentality that will be infectious to both Cross Country and Track and Field teams."

VanAlstine comes to Ottawa after serving as the Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach at Ironwood High School in Glendale, Arizona. In his lone season leading the program, he engineered a dramatic turnaround, guiding 12 athletes to the Arizona State Championships after the program had no state qualifiers the previous year. One of his athletes went on to capture a state championship.

While at Ironwood, VanAlstine directed all aspects of the cross country and track & field programs, overseeing staff, budgeting, meet scheduling, transportation, and athlete development. He also spearheaded culture-building initiatives that tripled the size of the program's roster and created a disciplined, high-performance environment.

In addition to his coaching duties at Ironwood High School, VanAlstine developed a private training group specializing in speed, endurance, and strength development for middle and high school athletes. He designed individualized, data-driven training plans for distance runners while also creating performance programs for athletes in football, basketball, and track & field. Working with athletes across multiple sports, VanAlstine emphasized improving speed, endurance, and overall athletic performance while helping young competitors reach their goals through individualized coaching and training.

VanAlstine competed as a Division I student-athlete in cross country and track & field at both the University of Missouri and Xavier University. While at Xavier, he served as a team captain and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative before completing his collegiate career at Missouri. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Banking from the University of Missouri in 2023.

VanAlstine also holds a USATF Level I Coaching Certification and is certified in CPR through the American Heart Association.

"I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity," said VanAlstine. "Ottawa University has so much to offer their students, athletes, staff, and community. It's truly a blessing to be chosen for this position. I can't wait to continue the success of this program and make #BraveNation proud! Thank you to Head Coach Jeremy Gathright, Athletic Director Phil McClintock, President Burgard, and the rest of the OU hiring committee for having faith in me to excel in this role."

As assistant coach, VanAlstine will assist with all aspects of the Ottawa University cross country and track & field programs, including recruiting, athlete development, practice planning, meet preparation, and daily coaching responsibilities.