Evans Kiptoo - Track & Field Coach - University of Akron Athletics

Evans Kiptoo

Title:
Head Cross Country Coach | Assistant Track and Field Coach (Distance)
Email:
ekiptoo@uakron.edu
Phone:
(330) 972-7964

AKRON, Ohio – Evans Kiptoo was named the Head Cross Country for The University of Akron track and field program, Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Kendra Reimer-Gonzales announced on July 31, 2024.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Evans to the Akron family,” said Reimer-Gonzales. “His proven success in building a championship program at Northwest Kansas Technical College made him an impressive candidate. Coach Evans has a big vision for the program and has high expectations of winning the Mid-American Conference and producing All-Americans. With his work ethic and determination, we look forward to him leading our distance program to new heights.”

Kiptoo comes to Akron after serving as the Head Cross Country coach for the men’s and women’s programs at the University of North Alabama a season ago.

Under Kiptoo’s tutelage, the Lions captured the UNA Invitational for both men and women, while earning numerous Atlantic Sun Conference Athlete and Freshman of the Week awards. His squad’s shined in the classroom as both the men’s and women’s teams boasted a cumulative GPA above 3.00.

“I want to thank University of Akron Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Operating Officer Markus Jennings and the Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Kendra Reimer-Gonzales and everyone involved in the search committee for entrusting me to lead the Akron Cross Country and Distance programs,” said Kiptoo. “It is a great honor for me to join the Zips Family. After visiting the school and meeting with the staff members I felt welcomed. I am grateful for this opportunity, and together along with everyone on our staff, I’m committed to work very hard to help our student-athletes become successful, and to continue the rich history of success this program has had in the past and continue to elevate this program to greater heights of success.”

Kiptoo arrived at North Alabama after working as the Head Cross Country/Track and Field coach at Northwest Kansas Technical College.

After fulfilling his military obligations in the U.S. Army, Kiptoo was named Northwest Kansas Technical College’s Associate Head Cross Country and Distance coach in July 2020. During the 2020 outdoor season, Kiptoo oversaw the development of Vincent Nchogu and Oliver Kiptoo, who was the NJCAA Nationals runner-up in 5,000 meters and placed third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The distance medley relay team also placed third at Nationals that year.

Following the success with the program, he was promoted to Head Cross Country/Track Distance coach the following year and led the cross country team to the highest finish in program history. Nchogu won two NJCAA National titles in 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, respectively, and the half marathon, with the team finishing fifth in the NJCAA National Championship and second in the NJCAA National Half-Marathon Championship, producing multiple All-America accolades. Other awards during that season included Nchogu as the Central Region Male Athlete of the Year and Kiptoo as the Central Region USTFCCCA Cross Country Coach of the Year.

2022 saw him take over both the cross-country and track and field programs at Northwest Tech, producing three All-America honorees, a 5,000-meter national champion and regional champion. The 2022 Outdoor Championships produced a national title in the 10,000 meters en route to a trio of All-America honorees in 10,000 meters, 5,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase. His team finished seventh at nationals, making it the best finish in the program's history.

Prior to his coaching career, Kiptoo was an accomplished long-distance runner at the collegiate level at Lindenwood University where he captured All-America honors in 2007. He capped his collegiate career at Eastern Kentucky, where he became a decorated cross country and long-distance track and field athlete.

Kiptoo got his coaching career started in 2012 as a graduate assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky, where he helped the Colonels qualify for NCAA Cross-Country Championship.

Kiptoo earned a bachelor's degree sport management from Eastern Kentucky in 2011. The following year, he completed a master's in sports administration from Eastern Kentucky in 2012.