Kishwaukee College Athletics welcomes Brady Hunt as the new Cross Country Head Coach.
Hunt comes from Loras College where he worked as a volunteer Assistant Coach. “Kish
has a fairly new program and I’m eager to see where we can go,” Hunt says. “We’ll
definitely build upon the success of last year’s team who sent a runner to Nationals.”
Cross Country began in Fall 2018 at Kish. With his experience in competing, coaching,
and recruiting, Hunt is hopeful to build a solid team of runners.
Hunt ran for Marmion Academy in Aurora. It is there where his affinity for distance
running solidified. “I love the sport. The team atmosphere and the mental stamina
it develops becomes addicting,” Hunt states. He was an All-Conference, All-Area, two-time
State Qualifier, and his high school team were two-time Regional Champions and placed
3rd in state.
After high school, he attended Loras College for his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology
with a minor in Business Activities. While there, he ran for Loras Cross Country and
the team won many titles including multiple National Catholic Champions. For graduate
school, Hunt attended Western Illinois University. He earned his graduate degree in
Kinesiology with an emphasis in Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology. Hunt was a Graduate
Assistant while at Western. He coached distance runners using timed workouts, drills,
and weight lifting. He organized travel and accommodations for Track & Field and Cross
Country, and he coordinated student-athlete recruiting for Western. He ran a 4:15.84
in the 1500 meter at the 2016 Iowa Conference Championships while at Loras and a 34:27.9
in the 10K at NCAA Regions while at Western.
Hunt’s coaching philosophy is simple: give athletes a positive experience and help
them achieve their goals. With experience running at the high school and collegiate
levels, Hunt has a unique prospective and ability to transform high school runners
into college runners, including adapting the runner’s body for longer runs on different
terrain.
“I am excited to be working with Brady Hunt. With his Master’s degree in Kinesiology
and recent running experience at Loras College, he will bring a strong science focus
to our program that will benefit our runners,” states Missy Gillis, Cross Country
Assistant Coach.
The 2019 Cross Country season officially begins on August 30 with a meet in Dixon.
For more information about Cross Country at Kish, contact Cross Country Head Coach
Brady Hunt at bhunt2@kish.edu or Assistant Coach Missy Gillis at mgillis@kish.edu.
Photo: Brady Hunt is named new Cross Country Head Coach at Kishwaukee College. Pictured:
Brady Hunt.