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HEAD COACH ROB MALLINDER

Though he is just entering his fourth year as head coach of men's and women's cross country and track, Rob Mallinder is already highly decorated.

Mallinder has been named Heart of America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for women's cross country all three seasons and was named Region V Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2002. His athletes have received NAIA All-American recognition eight times and Academic All-American recognition 14 times. Under his leadership, 75 athletes have participated at nationals.

Mallinder received his bachelor's degree in exercise science from Truman State University in 1997 and his master's of liberal arts in management degree from Baker University in 2000. He is certified as a Level II coach by the United States Track & Field Association in both sprints, hurdles & relays and endurance.

The native of New Zealand earned a second-place finish and two third-place finishes at the provincial level before attending Truman State on a track scholarship. At Truman, Mallinder was a nine-time MIAA all-conference performer and a two-time member of the MIAA all-conference academic team. His 4x400-meter relay team provisionally qualified for nationals.

He coaches horizontal jumps, hurdles, multi-event athletes and high jumpers.

ASSISTANT COACH ANNETTE PIERCE

Pierce begins her second year as an assistant coach at Baker with an extensive resume as a distance runner. She ran track and cross country at the University of Kansas and was named co-captain her senior year, then later became an assistant coach at Rockhurst University. Pierce continues to train for road races and marathons. She won the Kansas City Marathon in 1988; finished second at the Heart of America marathon in Columbia, Mo., in 1990 and at the Las Vegas marathon on 1992; and was invited to and ran the Hong Kong marathon. She ran her best time of 2:45 at Grandma's Marathon in Duluth in 1992.

Pierce is also a contributing writer to Runner's World and Marathon & Beyond magazines. She is an assistant in Baker's Learning Resource Center and coaches distance runners. Three of her runners qualified for the NAIA National Track & Field Championships her first year, and two runners won Heart of America Athletic Conference championships.

ASSISTANT COACH MACKIE VALENTIN

Valentin was an All-American wide receiver on the football team at Baker and helped lead the 'Cats to victory in the 2000 KWTO Bowl. He also ran one year of track, which he credits to helping him build speed as a receiver. Valentine will begin his second year of coaching sprinters and pole vaulters.

STUDENT-ASSISTANT COACH VINCE GONZALEZ

Gonzalez came to Baker on a football and track scholarship from Mt. San Antonio Community College. He will coach throwing events.