Derik Fossum

MITCHELL, S.D. For the first time in nearly a decade there is a new face leading the Dakota Wesleyan University men s and women s cross country and track and field teams.

Former Tiger athlete Derik Fossum has been promoted from his assistant coach role to the take over the teams, it was announced by DWU Athletic Director Curt Hart on Tuesday.

Derik has been a huge part of DWU track and field for several years as an athlete and a coach,” Hart said. We feel very fortunate to have someone with his passion for Dakota Wesleyan. We are excited for the future of Tiger cross country and track and field with Derik leading the way.”

Fossum, 25, will take over the teams immediately with the 2014-15 indoor track season currently ongoing. The teams have competed in three meets so far this season with Fossum leading the teams. Fossum said he is thrilled to lead a team that he has great passion for.

It s a blessing to have the opportunity to coach the sport that I love at the university I love,” Fossum said. This is something I have always hoped I would have the opportunity to do, but didn t think it would happen this early in my career. I couldn t be happier.”

Fossum is a former Great Plains Athletic Conference triple jump champion, winning the title with a leap of 46 feet, 8.75 inches at the league s indoor championships in 2010, which remains the second best mark in school history. Fossum also holds the second best outdoor mark in Tiger history with a mark of 47 feet, 11 inches at the 2012 GPAC Outdoor Championships, where he placed fourth. He qualified for the NAIA Indoor and Outdoor National Championships five times (two indoor, three outdoor) in his career at DWU.

Upon graduation, Fossum returned to DWU as an assistant under former Head Coach Patrick Belling, who resigned from the team in December of last year after eight years with the program. Fossum worked with Belling as an assistant with the track and field team working primarily with the school s jumpers.

I learned so much from him (Belling), but there is one thing that is foundational to how we operate and that I think is most important,” Fossum said. Belling took an interest in each and every one of his students and truly cared about us as people. Everything he did and every decision he made was about the experience and development of the student athletes on his team.”

Former DWU All-American runner Thomas Madut will join Fossum to work with the cross country and track distance runners as an assistant. The coaching staff will also include graduate assistant Eric Larson for track and field and cross country, while assistant coach Jeff Holstein and graduate assistant Bryan Burke will work with the track and field team.

Derik has had a major impact on DWU as a student-athlete, assistant coach and staff member for roughly eight years,” Associate Athletic Director Jon Hart said. His experience and familiarity with campus, and the track and field and cross country programs set him apart. He will be a great addition to our staff and we are excited to see the program grow with him at the helm.

In 2012, Fossum graduated from DWU with a triple major in business administration, leadership and public service and religion. He received his master s degree in educational policy and administration from DWU in 2013.

Prior to accepting the job with the cross country and track and field teams, Fossum served as the Director of Residence Life at DWU. He currently resides in Mitchell with his wife Jessie.