Nick Ekel is in his fifth season with the Tritons, and his first as the Head Track and Field Coach. Ekel spent the last three seasons as the Head Cross Country Coach where he helped guide his student-athletes to two NJCAA D1 women’s cross country championships (2018, 2019), one NJCAA D1 men’s cross country championship (2020), one NJCAA women’s half marathon championship (2019) and one NJCAA men’s half marathon championship (2020). The men and women are undefeated at the Region XI Championships and have both posted top three national meet finishes each year in cross country and half marathon. Since 2018, 14 Tritons have earned NJCAA All-American status in cross country, and 53 Tritons have earned All-Region XI status in cross country.

Before Iowa Central, Ekel served as the Head Track & Field and Cross Country Coach at Graceland University in 2017 and at Southwestern Community College from 2015-2017. Ekel was also a volunteer coach for the women’s track & field team at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2015.

A 2013 graduate of the University of Wyoming (B.S., Geography, Environment and Natural Resources), Ekel won the 10,000m run at the 2012 Mountain West Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship, and was an NCAA Division I West Preliminary Round qualifier in the 10,000m in 2012. Coach Ekel was also a two-time All-Mountain West Conference selection in Cross County (2010, 2011). Coach Ekel began his collegiate career at Saginaw Valley State University, where he helped the cross country team to a berth at the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship in 2009.

In addition to coaching at Iowa Central, Ekel serves as the recruiting coordinator for both the cross country and track & field programs and also works in the Advising Center as an Advising & Success Coach.