Pacific Lutheran University Athletics

The Pacific Lutheran University Athletic Department promoted Jacob Wahlenmaier to Interim Head Coach for the men's and women's cross country programs for the fall 2024 season.
 
"Jacob is a natural fit and we're excited to have him as the interim head coach. Jacob understands the program having been an assistant the past eight years and already has great relationships with the student-athletes. It's something that will help us hit the ground running this fall as both programs continue to compete at a high level within the Northwest Conference and in the West Region," said Athletic Director Mike Snyder. 
 
Wahlenmaier is elevated to Interim Head Coach after serving as an assistant for both the cross country and track & field programs since 2016. As an assistant for the cross country program, Wahlenmaier helped the men's team win a share of the Northwest Conference Championship in 2018 while helping the team finish runner-up at the NWC meet five times. Wahlenmaier has additionally coached four of the last seven individual NWC men's cross country champions and two NCAA qualifiers.
 
On the women's side, Wahlenmaier helped the Lutes place 10th at the NCAA West Region Championships in 2022, with Sarah Paquet becoming the first women's NCAA Division III Championship qualifier since 2004. 
 
Prior to PLU, Wahlenmaier was an assistant coach at Division II Saint Martin's University along with coaching stops at Lindbergh High School and Kent Meridian High School.
 
Wahlenmaier graduated with a degree in political science from Seattle Pacific University and holds an associate's degree from Everett Community College. While in college, Wahlenmaier ran for both Everett CC and Seattle Pacific and worked two years as a counselor at SPU's Falcon Running Camp.