Former Aquinas College cross country and track & field athlete Nick Thelen returns for his twelth season as an assistant coach for the Saints. Thelen holds a USTFCCCA Track & Field Technical Certification and assists with the distance and middle distance athletes. Since starting in his coaching role in 2014, the Aquinas women’s cross country team earned three consecutive podium finishes at the NAIA National Championship, while both the men and women’s programs featured numerous All-American individuals and relays in cross country and track & field.
While an athlete at Aquinas, Nick was a member of Aquinas' 4x800m Relay, which captured the 2012 NAIA Outdoor National Championship and school record, along with the 800m leg of the school record holding Distance Medley Relay. In addition to numerous All-American, Academic All-American, and All-WHAC accolades, Nick was awarded the Captain's award in 2011 and the Joseph Baker Award for most outstanding senior student athlete in 2012.
Thelen graduated from Aquinas in 2012 with a B.S. in Mathematics and completed a Master's in the Art of Teaching degree in 2019. Currently residing in Grand Rapids, Nick continues to engage in competitive running as a member of the RunGR club team and helps run the Grand Ledge Summer Track and Field Recreation Program.
