Aquinas College

Former Aquinas College Cross Country and Track and Field athlete Nicholas Thelen returns for his fifth season as an assistant coach for the Saints. During his tenure at Aquinas, Nick was a member of a Saints squad which rewrote nearly every indoor and outdoor school record for the middle distance events. Thelen ran the lead off leg on 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 Matt Hewson Captain's award in 2011 and the Joseph Baker Award for most outstanding senior student athlete in 2012. Graduating in 2012 with a B.S. in Mathematics, Thelen is pursuing a Master's degree in Educational Technology. Currently residing in Grand Rapids, Nick continues to engage in competitive running as a member of the Playmakers / New Balance club team based in East Lansing, MI and helps run the Grand Ledge Summer Track and Field Recreation Program.