Revamped Coaching Staff Readies for COD Track and Field Season

The College of DuPage Track and Field program is readying for the 2017 season with a new coaching staff lineup and official indoor registration with the National Junior College Athletic Association.

While the team roster has yet to be finalized, newly appointed Head Coach Bob Cervenka said he's eager to raise the program's profile, reestablishing the College as a national contender.

"Our goal is to build a top-performing program," he said. "This program has a strong history and we want to get College of DuPage back among the top collegiate teams in the area."

Cervenka takes the helm after five years as a COD assistant coach. His long coaching career includes three years as an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska, followed by 18 years in South Africa, where he established himself as a "jumps guru." His experience includes coaching a world champion, a Commonweatlh Games silver medalist, an Olympic finalist and 19 Junior Olympics All Americans. He returned to the U.S. in 2007 and coached eight Illinois high school state champions before coming to College of DuPage.

While he's still assembling his team, Cervenka's coaching staff includes Mike Considine, one of the winningest coaches in College of DuPage history. Considine coached the program for 15 years and has coached numerous NJCAA All Americans, including Tom Vandergrift, Steve Strevell, Jacob Hoesly and Jay Jackson. Under his leadership, the COD program won ten consecutive NJCAA Region IV Championships, achieving two sixth-place and a fourth place NJCAA Division I finishes. Considine's primary focus will be on running events.

The Chaparral squad's indoor season begins Jan. 28, with practices beginning the week of Jan. 3. Outdoor meets begin in early April. Click here for the complete schedule.

Click here for more information on COD Athletics.

College of DuPage is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association, National Junior College Athletic Association Region IV and North Central Community College Conference (N4C). The College's Athletics program offers nine men's and eight women's sports teams each year, including outdoor track and field, indoor track and field, cross country, football, volleyball, golf, basketball, tennis, baseball, softball and soccer. All home games are played on the Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd., and are free and open to the public.