A longtime Grinnell College track and field assistant coach will take the reins of the program starting next season following the retirements of Will and Evelyn Freeman.
Jeff Pedersen '02, who coached track and field at Grinnell in 2003-04 and from 2010 to the present, will move to the head coaching role of the men's and women's programs in the 2020-21 academic year.
Pedersen is no stranger to leading the women's program, having served as interim head coach of the team in 2010 and again in 2017. He holds USATF Levels 1 and 2 certifications in the sprints, hurdles, relays and throws.
His success as a throws coach at Grinnell has been impressive. Most recently, he coached Agne Lukoseviciute '21 to All-America honors in both the discus and hammer throw as she placed third in the former and fifth in the latter at the 2019 NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships. Between Lukoseviciute and Cara Bresnahan '19, Grinnell women won three of the four throwing events at the 2019 Midwest Conference Outdoor Championships.
In the past two seasons alone, Pedersen has coached two national All-Academic selections and six All-Midwest Conference performers including four league champions. During his tenure, Grinnell student-athletes have made 37 entries into the program's all-time top 10 list including four school records.
Pedersen also was Grinnell's head football coach for 10 years and has a MWC Coach of the Year honor to his credit.
Pedersen is a Grinnell graduate, earning a degree in history in 2002 after which he earned his master’s degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy.
Pedersen served as offensive coordinator and head strength and conditioning coach at The Catholic University of America. He also served as tight ends and wide receivers coach at the school from 2006-2007. Prior to that while at Grinnell, Pedersen served as the Pioneers’ offensive coordinator, head strength and conditioning coach and Fitness Center director. Before that, Pedersen was an assistant coach at the University of Chicago for the 2002 season.
A two-time All-America tight end while playing at Grinnell, Pedersen set school records for receptions in a single season. He was also a four-time All-Midwest Conference performer and a participant in the 2001 Division III Aztec Bowl, which pitted D-III All-Stars against the top players in Mexico.
Jeff and his wife Jordan Esbrook ’01 have two daughters.
