Farewell to Coach Evans Kiptoo

Few coaches in the history of Northwest Tech have left their mark quite like that of Evans Kiptoo, head coach of the Mavericks Cross-Country and Track/Field program. He has been a driving force in developing nationally competitive distance runners and has placed Northwest Tech squarely on the map as one of the top distance programs in the NJCAA. His presence in the program and on campus will be missed as he embarks on a new venture as the Head Cross-Country Coach at the University of North Alabama in the coming weeks.

"Coach Kiptoo has been an outstanding individual to work with since day one at Northwest Tech. We look forward to continuing to follow his success and will have a possible landing spot for future Northwest Tech Athletes to go to a Division I school," commented Athletic Director Rory Kling.

Coach Kiptoo's journey with Northwest Tech began in July 2020 when he assumed the Associate Head Cross-Country and Distance Coach role. During his time in this position, Kiptoo helped produce five All-Americans, three individual National Champions, and one National Runner-up. Recognizing his potential for success, Coach Kiptoo was promoted to Head Cross-Country and Distance Coach the following year.
In his first year as the Head Coach, Kiptoo led the cross-country program to new levels of success, with the team finishing 5th in the NJCAA Cross Country Championship and Runner-Up in the Half-Marathon Championship. Notably, runner Vincent Nchogu claimed the Cross-Country Championship title and was awarded USTFCCCA's NJCAA Division I Men's Cross-Country Athlete of the Year. Coach Kiptoo also earned recognition as the USTFCCCA's NJCAA Division I Central Region Men's Coach of the Year. The success continued into the distance program in the 2021-22 track season, with four more All-Americans, two of which were National Champions. The Track & Field Team's overall (Outdoor) 7th-place finish marked the college's best performance to date.

In 2022, the Cross-Country program made college history, capturing the national title in the NJCAA Half-Marathon while also placing third in the Cross Country Championship, producing five All-Americans between the two competitions. Coach Kiptoo also received Coach of the Meet for the Men's Half-Marathon Championship. During the 2022-23 track season, the distance program produced one more All-American in the 1500-meter run.

Coach Kiptoo's teams have also achieved notable academic success, with two Cross-Country All-Academic Second Team selections, one Cross-Country All-Academic First Team selection, and one Half-Marathon All-Academic Team of the Year recognition.

"Coach Kiptoo is exactly what you want in a coach," said President Ben Schears. "He ran the program with integrity, held students to a high standard, and is humble and easy to work with. We're going to miss him!"

Coach Kiptoo's three-year run at Northwest Tech has been nothing short of extraordinary, producing a staggering 19 All-Americans, leading the Cross-Country program to the college's first-team national championship, and seeing his students set several new college records. Beyond the accolades and titles, Coach Kiptoo's impact extends far deeper, instilling a sense of discipline and perseverance in his athletes. His dedication to their growth as individuals and athletes have left a lasting impression, shaping their character and setting them on a path toward future success.

As Coach Kiptoo embarks on a new chapter in his coaching career, we are thankful for his time, talents, and contributions to Northwest Tech athletics.