Caleb Drake Named New Cross Country Coach
Oskaloosa–William Penn University Athletics Director Nik Rule is proud to announce the hiring of Caleb Drake as the new Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach.
Drake, who will also serve as Assistant Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Coach, comes to WPU from Dordt University where he was on the cross country and track and field coaching staffs for the past four years.
Drake joined the staff in 2017 as a graduate assistant and was in that role for three years. He was then promoted to an assistant coach in 2020, holding that moniker for one season. As a coach, he led multiple All-Americans and guided the 4×800-meter relay team to an NAIA national crown.
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to lead the cross country programs and serve the track and field programs at William Penn University,” Drake said. “While visiting and touring, I could feel the positive energy and momentum that is present in the Athletic Department and on campus. I believe that through hard work and consistency, the cross country programs have nothing but an upward trajectory at both the conference and national levels. I look forward to getting to work very soon and continue to build upon the momentum that is already present on campus. My wife and I have no doubt that this is the right next step for us and we cannot wait to join the community.”
A 2017 graduate of Dordt with a degree in Business Administration, Drake was an accomplished student-athlete, earning three cross country All-America honors in 2014, 2015, and 2016. He was also a five-time indoor track and field All-American, doing so in the distance medley relay three times (2015, 2016, 2017), while also earning awards in the 3,000-meter run (2016) and 5,000-meter run (2018).
Drake capped off his collegiate career with outdoor track and field All-America honors in the 4×800 and the 10,000-meter run, leading him to garner USTFCCCA Regional Athlete of the Year honors in 2018.
Drake also received his Master’s of Education in Sports Leadership at Dordt in 2020.
As a prep athlete at Pleasant Valley HS, Drake was a state runner-up, school record-holder, and named to the Elite All-State team.
“We are very excited to have Coach Drake as the leader for our cross country and distance program,” Rule said “It was very clear that the strengths that Coach Drake possesses are exactly what we desire at WPU. He is a person who has transformational leadership characteristics, is very knowledgeable in the sport, and works tirelessly when it comes to recruiting.”
“He has spent time at one of the best NAIA programs in the country and was a big part of their success,” Rule added. “He came highly recommended by his colleagues and those he coached; there is no doubt in our mind that Coach Drake will take this program to new heights. We believe our cross county and distance program is a sleeping giant and with Coach Drake at the helm, we believe our future is as bright as it ever has been in the program.”
