ELON, N.C. – Elon University Director of Athletics Dave Blank announced the hiring of Nick Polk as the head Phoenix cross country coach and assistant track and field coach on August 13, 2014. A three-time All-American runner and national champion at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich., Polk has spent the last three seasons as the assistant cross country and track and field coach at GVSU.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Nick Polk to the Elon family as our new head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach," Blank said. "Nick's experience as a coach who guided cross country programs to several national championships and as a student-athlete is impressive and he knows what it takes to build a successful program both athletically and academically. We are excited about Nick's enthusiasm and we are confident that he is the right coach to guide our cross country program as we move into the Colonial Athletic Association this season."
 
During his tenure at Grand Valley, Polk helped 43 runners earn All-American accolades and set numerous NCAA and school records.
 
"I want to thank Dave Blank, Mark Elliston and everyone that was involved in the search process for bringing me in and believing in me," Polk said. "It was obvious to me from the beginning that a solid foundation of excellence has been built at Elon and I very much look forward to getting started and continuing the great work that has been done before me."
 
Polk guided the GVSU women's cross country team to back-to-back national championships at the Division II level in 2012 and 2013, in addition to leading the Lakers women's indoor and outdoor track and field teams to national titles in 2012. Polk helped Rachel Patterson set the NCAA meet record in the 5,000-meter event with a time of 16:07.28, in addition to guiding the distance medley relay team to an NCAA record time of 11:23.35. Polk also helped Betsy Graney record a time of 9:53.85 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase – an NCAA Division II record.
 
Prior to returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach, Polk ran professionally at ZAP Fitness from 2009 to 2010 in addition to serving as a graduate assistant for the John Carroll University track and field team in 2011. Polk also worked in various capacities for Nike and USA Track & Field.
 
As an athlete at GVSU, Polk was a three-time NCAA Division II All-American, the lead off leg for the National Championships Distance Medley Relay team in 2008, and currently holds the GVSU school records in the 1,500 and 10,000 meters.
 
Polk is a USA Track & Field Level II Certified coach. He earned a bachelor's degree in business economics from Grand Valley in 2008.