Jeff Pedersen selected to lead Grinnell track and field programs starting in 2020-21
GRINNELL, Iowa – A longtime Grinnell College track and field assistant coach will take the reins of the program starting next season following the retirements of Will and Evelyn Freeman.
Jeff Pedersen ’02, who coached track and field at Grinnell in 2003-04 and from 2010 to the present, will move to the head coaching role of the men’s and women’s programs in the 2020-21 academic year.
“I am excited to have Jeff move into this expanded track coaching role,” said Grinnell Director of Athletics and Recreation Andy Hamilton ’85. “Having him at the helm will allow our teams to seamlessly continue their recent growth and success. Program continuity, coupled with our state of the art facilities and dedicated track athletes, gives me enthusiasm for future success.”
Will Freeman currently serves as head men’s track and cross country coach and Evelyn Freeman the women’s coach for both. Under the College’s restructured model, the head track and field coach will lead both the men’s and women’s programs, while a new head cross country coach for both will be hired yet this winter.
Pedersen is no stranger to leading the women’s program, having served as interim head coach of the team in 2010 and again in 2017. He holds USATF Levels 1 and 2 certifications in the sprints, hurdles, relays and throws.
His success as a throws coach at Grinnell has been impressive. Most recently, he coached Agne Lukoseviciute ’21 to All-America honors in both the discus and hammer throw as she placed third in the former and fifth in the latter at the 2019 NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships. Between Lukoseviciute and Cara Bresnahan ’19, Grinnell women won three of the four throwing events at the 2019 Midwest Conference Outdoor Championships.
In the past two seasons alone, Pedersen has coached two national All-Academic selections and six All-Midwest Conference performers including four league champions. During his tenure, Grinnell student-athletes have made 37 entries into the program’s all-time top 10 list including four school records.
“I’m extremely excited for the opportunity to lead our men’s and women’s track and field teams starting this fall,” said Pedersen. “I’m grateful that Director of Athletics Andy Hamilton and the rest of the College administration believed this would be a positive move for the track and field programs. I’m eager to partner with a new cross country hire in an effort to both continue and build on the successes of Will and Evelyn Freeman.”
