Blake Boldon has been named director of cross country and track & field at Drake University, athletics director Brian Hardin announced. Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays, had been serving as acting director of cross country and track & field at Drake since Nov. 18, 2019.
 
Asha Gibson remains head coach of the men's and women's track & field program and Jay Koloseus is head coach of the men's and women's cross country team and an assistant coach for the men's and women's track & field team.
 
"I am very grateful of the leadership Blake has given our cross country and track & field programs over the past two years," Hardin said. "Blake was asked to help with the transition that occurred almost two years ago and he guided our coaches and student-athletes through the pandemic and helped the team produce historic results last year. It's clear his time as a student-athlete, coach, and leader of the Drake Relays provided him perspective that benefited and will continue to be a resource for our coaching staff and student-athletes."
 
Boldon, Gibson, Koloseus, as well as throws coach Zane Chapman and assistant coach/director of operations Brette Jensen combined to lead the Bulldogs to historic results in 2021. At the 2021 MVC Outdoor Championships, the men's third-place showing was their highest since 1974 and the 135 points were the second-most in program history and most since 1968. The women's cross country team finished third at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, their best finish since 2000 and the men's indoor track and field team registered its best MVC Championships in 21 years. 
 
"Working alongside Asha, Jay and the entire coaching staff over the last two seasons has been energizing," Boldon said. "I am confident that this staff and these student-athletes will continue to reshape our program to distinguish Drake University as one of the nation's top schools for track and field athletes to pursue their academic interests. The energy of this program reminds me why I fell in love with the sport of track and field more than 20 years ago and seeing their efforts convert to results is a clear example of what is right with sport."
 
Under Boldon's guidance, the teams also excelled through the pandemic in the classroom men's and women's teams also earned All-Academic Team honors from United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association last year as the women earned a 3.59 grade-point average and the men recorded a 3.35 GPA.
 
Boldon previously served as head coach of the cross country teams at the University of Pennsylvania and UAB, and as an assistant coach at Iowa State, before transitioning to an administrative role and director of the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. He has overseen the Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom since 2016.