CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte director of athletics Cherie Swarthout is pleased to announce the addition of Jake Krolick to her staff as the director of track & field and cross country. Krolick becomes the third person to lead all four programs who compete through six seasons after spending five seasons as head cross country and assistant track & field coach at West Texas A&M.
 
"Jake is a tremendous addition to our department and is well-positioned to continue to evolve the foundation of excellence that has been created in our cross country and track & field programs," Swarthout stated. "His experience and success position him well to maximize our resources and help support future growth in all areas. We look forward to welcoming Jake to the Royal Family!"
 
Krolick comes to the Royals after spending the past seven seasons coaching cross country and track & field in the Lone Star Conference. In that time, he has coached the highest ever program and individual finishes in men's and women's cross country at West Texas A&M and been a part of 13 Lone Star Conference titles and an NCAA Track & Field Championship.
 
In cross country, Krolick coached the Buffs to five LSC Championship titles on the men's side and four runner-up finishes on the women's side. This led Krolick to be named LSC Coach of Year for four years. Additionally, the programs have made five NCAA Championship appearances with the men turning in their best performance in 2019 when they finished 10^th and the women finishing 13^th this fall to register their best race at the Championships ever. Three of Krolick's runners earned USTFCCCA All-American honors this fall bringing his total to six. Numerous runners from the program have earned all-region, all-conference, conference freshman of the year, and conference runner of the year honors as well.
 
On the track & field side, Krolick was pivotal in the success of the program as a top assistant. He coached two NCAA 800-meter National Champions and 14 All-Americans. Additionally, the 2017 and 2021 South Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year saw 20 individuals two DMR teams qualify for NCAA competition and coached 73 All-LSC athletes and 35 LSC Event Champions. Three of his athletes currently hold top-10 all-time NCAA DII performances.
 
"I am very excited about the opportunity to lead the cross country and track & field programs here at Queens University of Charlotte," Krolick commented. "Coach [Jim] Vahrenkamp and Coach [Tom] Scott have elevated both programs and I am thrilled to join such a long tradition of success that goes back even further. I am looking forward to getting the process started with the student-athletes, getting to know them, and jumping right into the indoor season this weekend."
 
Prior to joining the Buffs, Krolick had a short stint as an assistant coach at Queens and spent time at Texas A&M-Commerce, Pfieffer University, Edinboro University, and Adams State University.
 
Krolick spent his undergraduate collegiate career running at Edinboro under USTFCCCA Hall of Fame Coach Doug Watts. He was named All-PSAC and all-region, competing at NCAA Cross Country National Championship for three years. He was also a three-time academic all-American, earning his bachelor's degree in mathematics education. Krolick then attended Adams State for graduate school running under 30-time National Coach of the Year Damon Martin and earning RMAC First-Team honors in the 10,000-meter. Krolick continues to train today, having narrowly missed qualifying for the US Olympic Marathon team trials in 2016 by 25 seconds and in 2020 missing the 2:19 standard by 14 hundredths of a second. 
 
Krolick will begin leading the Royals when their indoor season kicks off this weekend.
 
"I'd like to thank Cherie Swarthout for this outstanding opportunity, Colleen Cannon for her help through the interview process, and the previous staff for all trusting me with the program moving forward," Krolick added. "It's time to get to work!"

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