Cordes Named AU Cross Country Coach
August 24, 2005

Ashland University has named Nick Cordes as its head coach for men’s and women’s cross country. Cordes will be assisted by Nate Iler and Leigh Daniel.

Cordes is a 2003 Ashland University graduate. During his career at Ashland he was a standout in cross country and track and field. In 2002, he was the national runnerup when AU hosted the NCAA Division II cross country championships at Brookside Golf Course. During the 2003 indoor track and field season Cordes was third in the mile at the national meet and he completed his senior season by placing fourth in the 5,000 at nationals.

All told, Cordes was a seven-time All-America. His resume also includes a fourth place finish at nationals in the 10K (2001, outdoor track). After leaving AU, Cordes trained with the Hanson-Brooks Distance Project. Cordes posted a time of 2:20.32 at the 2003 Chicago Marathon. That time qualified him for the United States Olympic Trials. Cordes wasn’t able to compete at the Trials due to injury. Cordes is originally from Madison, OH.

“Nick Cordes demonstrated as a student-athlete that he could compete at the highest level,” said AU director of athletics Bill Goldring. “He’s excited to share his wisdom with our student-athletes as our cross country coach. I’m excited that Nick has accepted our offer.”

Iler just completed his college eligibility last year. Like Cordes, he was a standout in every season. He was the lone member of the AU men’s cross country team to qualify for the national meet last fall. During the cross country season, he claimed individual championships at Wooster and Akron and was the 2004 GLIAC champion. He was also second at the All-Ohio Cross Country Championships. Iler was the runnerup in the mile at the 2005 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and was third in the 1,500 at the outdoor championships. He was a four-time All-America. The Bucyrus OH, native was the 2004-05 Ashland University Male Student-Athlete of the Year.

Daniel ran for Texas Tech. She captured a pair of NCAA individual championships, winning the 10K outdoors and the 5K indoors. She was a seven-time All-America with the Red Raiders – six of those honors came in track and field and one in cross country. Daniel has completed several marathons. Her best time is 2:46.47 at the 2004 Detroit Marathon. She was the third woman to cross the finish line at that event.

“I have great faith that with Nick at the helm and two world-class athletes assisting him that our cross country and distance programs will continue to thrive,” said AU head track and field coach Jud Logan.