Chase Englestead has been hired as the head coach of the Snow College men's and women's cross-country teams, Athletic Director Robert Nielson announced Monday.  The hiring comes following the announcement of the addition of the cross-country programs in February.
 
Englestead will be tasked with ushering in the new programs, which will be housed under the NJCAA umbrella beginning next fall.  Snow College joins other members within the Scenic West Athletic Conference who have also recently added cross-country teams.
 
Englestead joins the Badgers after spending 14 years as the cross-country and track head coach at Riverton High School where he helped his team win five Cross-Country Region Championships as well as the 2014 Track and Field State Championship.
 
While at Riverton High School, Englestead was a two-time UHSAA Gold Star Coach Award winner and named coach of the year by the UHSXCA in 2022 and by the USTFCCCA in 2014.  The Silverwolves were crowned the Running Lane Nationals Team Champions in 2022 and secured a ninth-place finish at the Nike Cross Country Nationals under Englestead's direction the same year.  This came following a 2021 season that saw the team land inside the top 20 in the National Cross-Country Rankings.  
 
Englestead's coaching career started in 2010 where he coached at Timberline Middle School and as a volunteer at Utah Valley University where he coached the steeplechase.  During his career, Englestead has coached two future NCAA All-Americans and two future NJCAA All-Americans.
 
Englestead graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Physical Education degree at Utah Valley University in 2010 where he ran both track and cross-country.  He was named the UVU cross-country Athlete of the Year in 2006 and 2007 and the UVU track Athlete of the Year in 2007 and 2008 and was also named an NJCAA All-American in the 3000-meter steeplechase.  He's a former UVU school record holder in the 1500-meter and the 3000-meter steeplechase.
 
Englestead prepped at Panguitch High School where he earned athletic letters in track and field, cross-country, basketball, baseball, wrestling, golf, and weightlifting.  While there, he helped the Bobcats win three track and field state titles as well as state titles in basketball and baseball.  
 
Englestead's grandfather Ray coached basketball and track and field at Snow College during the '60s and was later inducted into the Utah Coaches Hall of Fame in 2006 following a 45-year coaching career.  Englestead is eager for the opportunity to follow in his grandfather's footsteps.
 
"I'm deeply grateful and honored for the opportunity to shape the new cross-country programs at Snow College from the ground up. I am looking forward to helping athletes develop themselves as people, in the classroom, and as athletes at this stage of their lives."