By: Ben Diers

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Concordia-St. Paul Director of Athletics Regan McAthie has announced the hiring of Sam Kettenhofen as the university's next head track & field coach.

A former standout athlete at the University of Minnesota, Kettenhofen comes to CSP after serving as head track & field coach at St. Cloud State for seven seasons stretching from 2015-2023.

In his time at SCSU, Kettenhofen's track & field program produced 41 All-NSIC performers, 12 individual NSIC champions, 18 NCAA Championships qualifiers and 11 USTFCCCA All-Americans. As a cross country coach for the Huskies, Kettenhofen coached three All-NSIC performers and one USTFCCCA All-American. He was also responsible for the recruitment and coaching of two NSIC Newcomers of the Year, one NSIC Field Athlete of the Year, and 23 current school record holders.

"I'm thrilled to join Concordia St. Paul as the head track and field coach," said Kettenhofen. "CSP has built a strong reputation within the NSIC for developing well-rounded student-athletes who excel in competition, in the classroom, and in the community. I am eager to continue that tradition while bringing new energy and vision to the program. I want to sincerely thank Athletic Director Regan McAthie and the entire leadership team for this opportunity. Their commitment to supporting both coaches and student-athletes is evident, and I'm grateful to be part of such a forward-looking department. I can't wait to get started with our Golden Bears student-athletes and help them reach their full potential."

"Coach Kettenhofen impressed our committee right away with his energy and vision for the future of CSP Track and Field," said McAthie. "We know he'll be able to build upon the previous success of the program while adding his own expertise and we are thrilled to bring him aboard."

Prior to his seven-year run as head coach at St. Cloud State, Kettenhofen served as a graduate assistant for the Huskies from 2013-15, primarily working with the horizontal jumps and the multi-events. He earned a master's degree in sports management from SCSU in 2015.

Graduating in 2013 with a double major in human resource development and business marketing education, Kettenhofen was a standout track & field athlete at the University of Minnesota. He helped the Gophers earn five Big 10 Team Championships, finishing his career on Minnesota's top 10 lists in the indoor long jump (8^th, 7.43m) and outdoor javelin (8^th, 59.73m) while also being a member of the No. 9 4x100 meter relay squad (40.49s). Kettenhofen was a member of the Gophers' 2012 NCAA West Preliminary Qualifier 4x100-meter relay team and twice earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in addition to a 2012 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

A native of Appleton, Wisconsin, Kettenhofen is a 2008 graduate of Appleton North High School. He competed for Rob Salm and Kevin Deering at Appleton North, earning four letters in track while leading his team to a fourth-place finish at the 2008 Division 1 Wisconsin State Meet. As a junior, Kettenhofen won the Fox Valley Association 300-meter hurdles championship. The three-sport standout also earned two letters in football and basketball.

Kettenhofen replaces outgoing Head Coach Sam Johnson, who stepped down in June after leading the program for the past 13 seasons.