GALESBURG, Illinois – Ryan Monson has been hired as the Knox College head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach, announced Director of Athletics Corey Goff on Monday.
Monson comes to Knox after a successful career on the cross country and track and field teams at Loras College. He was a four-year letter winner for both teams.
“We are thrilled to have Ryan join the Prairie Fire staff,” said Goff. “He brings championship experience and an enthusiasm for running that will help him rejuvenate our distance programs in cross country and track and field.”
Most recently Monson has been an event operations intern at the Field of Dreams where he prepped the diamonds for youth baseball tournaments, coordinated field rentals and worked the Minor League Baseball (MiLB) and Major League Baseball (MLB) games that the facility hosted.
“This opportunity at Knox is one that I am very excited about,” said Monson. “Having been a high school runner from the area and being a Division III cross country/track athlete myself, this is something that is near and dear to me. I would love to be able to grow the cross country and track programs here at Knox, and start contending for some Midwest Conference titles! This is a good young group we have this season, and I can’t wait to see what this year brings! I would like to thank Corey Goff and the rest of the hiring committee for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to work with such a great program!”
Monson is a 2019 graduate of local Mercer County High School in Aledo where he was a two-year captain for both the cross country and track and field teams.
While at Loras, Monson was a member of the dean’s list and also a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society. He graduated in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management.
***Story and photo courtesy of Knox College Athletics***
