OLATHE, Kan. – MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) Director of Athletics Ryan Thompson has officially named Clayton Pritchard as the head coach of the Pioneer track & Field and Cross Country programs.
Pritchard returns to MNU after spending the past 10 seasons at North Dakota State University, where he served as the assistant men's and women's track & field coach overseeing the jumping events. During his tenure with the Bison, he coached athletes to 32 individual conference championships, five Summit League Most Valuable Performer honors, 30 NCAA West Regional qualifiers, and four school records. As recruiting coordinator and camp director, he also helped North Dakota State capture 30 men's and women's conference championships over the past decade.
Prior to North Dakota State, Pritchard spent two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Nebraska, where he worked alongside legendary head coach Gary Pepin. During his time with the Cornhuskers, he coached multiple conference champions, NCAA West Regional qualifiers, First Team All-Americans, and an athlete who competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Before entering the collegiate ranks, Pritchard spent seven years teaching and coaching in the Leavenworth (Kan.) School District. As the girls' head Track & Field coach, he guided three state champions while helping nine athletes continue their careers at the collegiate level.
"Clayton's journey has come full circle," said Thompson. "As an MNU alumnus, he understands what makes this place special, and his experience developing student-athletes at the highest levels has prepared him to lead our track & field program with excellence. More importantly, he is a man of faith and character who will invest deeply in our students, helping them grow as competitors, leaders, and followers of Christ. We are excited to welcome Clayton and his family home."
"I want to start by thanking the admin team at MNU for the opportunity to come home and lead the Pioneer XC and Track & Field teams," said Pritchard. I am very excited to get started building our staff, meeting the current Pioneer student athletes, and to get on the road recruiting the next great group of athletes to call MNU home.
"North Dakota State has been our home for the past decade. Thank you to Matt, Colleen, and the entire admin team for allowing me to be a part of Bison Athletics during that time. I also need to thank my bosses Stevie Keller, Don Larson, and Gary Pepin (UNL) for the leadership example that they provided. This opportunity would not be possible without those guys sharing their years of wisdom.
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"The great thing about being a Bison and now transitioning to be a Pioneer, is that they both encompass the same ideals. Bison see a storm coming and they turn into the storm and approach it with purpose, knowing if they keep moving forward through the storm, they will come out better on the other side. The early Pioneer moving across the Kansas prairie, approached the unknown with the same tenacity, knowing that if they kept their head down and worked through each challenge they faced, they would achieve the goals they had for their families.
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We are very excited to bring these ideals back to Olathe and to build a bigger and stronger Pioneer Track & Field/XC Team for the future!"
Pritchard and his wife, Morgan, have 3 children: Calli, Chloe, and Camden.
For more updates on MNU Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Pioneers on social media and visit mnusports.com.
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