Cross Country Coaching Staff
Head Coach
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Coach Kindler has served as the Wildcat's head men's and women's cross country and track and field coach since 2007.
The Esbon, Kan., native comes to Baldwin City after serving three years (2004-2007) at Kansas Wesleyan University in the same position. Previous to KWU Kindler, served as an assistant coach at Fort Hays State University (NCAA Division II). As a student-athlete he achieved All-American status four times and Academic All-American status twice while bringing home a national title in the javelin for the Tigers. Kindler graduated with an undergraduate degree in sports management in 2001 and a master's degree in sports administration in 2003.
Kindler's coaching accolades include two KCAC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year Awards, 2006 and 2004; HAAC Cross Country Coach of the Year 2009 and 2010; KCAC Women's Cross Country Champions, 2006 and 2004; KCAC Women's Cross Country Individual Champion, 2006 and 2004; Region IV Women's Cross Country Individual Champion, 2006; HAAC Women's Cross Country Champions, 2010; NAIA National Scholar Team, Women's Cross Country, 2006; NAIA National Scholar Team, Men's Cross Country, 2006.
Kindler was named the NAIA Region IV Women's Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year in 2005. He has also coached 84 KCAC All-Conference marks, 14 NAIA national qualifiers and nine NAIA All-American Scholar-Athletes, among them was Kansas Wesleyan's first Women's Cross Country All-American. Kindler his wife, Sara, and daughter Taylor live in Gardner, Kan.
Assistant Mackie Valentine
Assistant Zach Atzeni
Assistant Darrin Prince
Student Assistant Jason Robbs
Graduate Assistant
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Graduated from Purdue University with a bachelors of arts in psychology with a minor in American Sign Language teaching December 2010.
Four-year letter winner at Purdue University as track and field athlete.
Three-year national qualifier in the 110m hurdles.
Two-year national qualifier in the 60m hurdles (indoor) personal best time of 7.79 sec.
Ranked as the No. five all-time 400m hurdler at Purdue with a time of 52.67 sec.
Part of two NCAA division I regional qualifying relay teams 4x400 and 4x100m.
Two Big Ten bronze medals in the 110m hurdlers.
Qualified for the 2008 Olympic trials by hitting the Olympic B standard in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.59sec. This same mark stands in making me the stadium record holder in the 110m hurdles at Purdue University.
After college, Keith served as an assistant sprints and hurdles coach at Thornwood High School, his alma-mater, where the team finished the 2010-2011 seasons with one state champion in the 400m dash, and third place finish in the 4x400m relay at state as well.
Coached a first year high school hurdler to breaking a 30 year old school record in the 300m intermediate hurdles.
Born in Chicago, Ill., Keith is the son of Bridgette Hopkins. He has three brothers, Dante, Sean and Quinn and two sisters Katelyn and Dominique.
Graduate Assistant Ian Hankins
Washington D.C., native Ian Hankins comes to Baker University after serving as an assistant coach of cross country and track and field at St. Johns College. While at St. Johns his women’s cross country team placed third in the WCAC and placed eighth at the DC/MD/VA Private School State Meet.
Coach Hankins brings extensive knowledge within the running industry. Currently, Hankins serves as part owner of the Track and Cross Country Journal. His main focus is editing and social media market research within the company.
Hankins attended college at Muskingum University (Ohio) where he served as a two-year captain and was a three-time NCAA Regional Qualifier in Cross Country. Hankins holds the No. 2 fastest 10,000-meter time in school history on the track.
Post Collegiately, Hankins placed 10th overall in the Parks Half Marathon and 65th in the Marin Corps Marathon, good enough for a qualifying time in the Boston Marathon. Coach Hankins will work primarily with the Wildcat distance runners.
