Peoria, Ill. -- Bradley Athletics is pleased to announce that Andrew Carlson has been named the head coach of the Bradley Cross Country and Track & Field teams. Carlson has an exemplary track record in coaching excellence, boasting 10 All-Americans and 41 individual/relay conference championships throughout his coaching career, all following an accomplished professional career.

"Andrew Carlson is coming to Bradley to take us to the next level," said Dr. Chris Reynolds, Bradley Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. "He has had significant success as a coach, consistently developing student-athletes with an intentional focus on championship mentality and performance. His accomplishments, both a coach and an athlete, are remarkable and Bradley Athletics is proud to have him on board."
 

"Andrew Carlson is coming to Bradley to take us to the next level." - Dr. Chris Reynolds

Carlson brings impressive credentials to the team having guided four Louisville Cardinals to the NCAA Track & Field Preliminaries, mentoring runners to top-ten times in multiple events and an All-Region honor in Cross Country.

"I simply could not be more excited to be the Head Coach of the Bradley University Track and Field program," said Carlson. "I can't wait to get to The Hilltop and get to work with tremendous student-athletes, coaches, administration and all of the Bradley community. I believe Bradley is in position to provide both a world class athletic and educational opportunity. The standard that has been set at Bradley is tremendous and I am looking forward to setting it even higher. I would like to thank Dr. Chris Reynolds, Brad Chandler, Fabia McDonald and Bradley legend Craig Dahlquist for this incredible opportunity. Go Braves!"

 

"The standard that has been set at Bradley is tremendous and I am looking forward to setting it even higher." - Andrew Carlson

Prior to joining Louisville in August 2021, Carlson spent seven and a half seasons as head coach of the North Dakota State Men's and Women's Cross Country teams and was an assistant coach for the Track & Field teams, directing the long-distance runners. The Bison won 29 Summit League Championships during his tenure (15 Women's T&F, 13 Men's T&F, one Women's XC). Carlson was named Summit League Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2019 after the team won the Summit League Championship. His runners broke 10 school records including 73 current top-10 marks in NDSU history.

Carlson has mentored numerous successful runners, including Erin Teschuk at NDSU. Teschuk competed for Team Canada in the 3,000m Steeplechase at the 2016 Olympic Games. At NDSU, she was a seven-time First Team All-American, three-time USTFCCCA Midwest Athlete of the Year and a two-time Canadian Champion in the Steeplechase.

He graduated with a Bachelor's in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota in 2005. Carlson was a three-time NCAA All-American in cross country and track and set the school record in the 5,000m. Carlson was also a two-time NCAA Midwest Region cross country champion, one of which took place here in Peoria, and was the two-time runner-up in the Big Ten outdoor 5,000m, and owns the fifth-fastest time in Gopher history in the 10,000m.

Carlson joined Team USA Minnesota after graduating in 2005, winning the USA 15K road championship in 2008 and the 25K in 2010. He competed in four World Championships for Team USA, three half-marathons and one cross country. Carlson finished sixth at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in 2012, with his 2:11:24 standing as the seventh-fastest time set by a runner in his U.S. marathon debut.