Jeff Kavalunas enters his fourth year at LMU for the 2025 season. Throughout his 30+ year head coaching career, Kavalunas has consistently developed cross country teams, middle distance, and distance runners to be competitive for podium spots at both the conference and NCAA championship levels. He has overseen two national champions, 45 All-Americans, 91 conference champions, and multiple NCAA Woman of the Year finalists.
In his first three years in Harrogate, Coach Kavalunas has put his mark on the program, guiding both the men’s and women’s cross country teams to top-six finishes at the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Championships in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The women’s team advanced to the NCAA Southeast Regional all three years, achieving a program-best 4th-place finish. The men’s team advanced to the NCAA Southeast Regional in the last two seasons, with a top finish of 6th place. Individually, in his time at LMU, he has developed 11 All-Conference and 9 All-Region runners.
His teams have also stood out both academically and athletically. On the women’s side, the cross country program has produced five CSC Academic All-District selections and ten USTFCCCA All-Academic honorees. Athletically, the team has earned five All-Region honors, four SAC All-Conference selections, two SAC Freshman of the Year awards, two SAC All-Freshman Team honors, and two SAC Runner of the Week recognitions.
The men’s cross country program has also made significant strides, earning two CSC Academic All-District honors and three USTFCCCA All-Academic selections. Athletically, the team has achieved one All-Region honor, two SAC All-Conference selections, and one SAC Runner of the Week award.
Kavalunas arrived in Harrogate from Eastern New Mexico University, where he served as the head men’s and women’s coach for both cross country and track & field since 2017. During his stay in Portales, he oversaw and produced 17 NCAA All-Americans and 21 Lone Star Conference champions.
From 2010 to 2017, Kavalunas had two separate head coaching stints at University of the Southwest and Olivet College. At the University of the Southwest, he developed a competitive NAIA program, producing one All-American, four National Track & Field Championship qualifiers, and three National Cross Country Championship qualifiers.
During his four-year tenure at NCAA DIII affiliate Olivet College, the Michigan native coached three individual conference champions and two NCAA National Championship Track & Field qualifiers.
Kavalunas' longest head coaching tenure was at Ferris State University in Michigan from 1996 to 2009. While in Big Rapids, he developed an impressive resume, including overseeing an NCAA National Champion. His time at Ferris State included the development of 24 Track & Field All-Americans, 48 NCAA National Championship qualifiers, and over 60 conference champions, while setting 37 program records. In 2004, Ferris State reached a milestone under his leadership when a student-athlete qualified for the Olympic Trials.
Kavalunas began his head coaching career in 1991 at Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, overseeing both cross country and track & field. His athletes set six program records, earned two All-American honors, and sent 15 to NCAA National Championship qualifiers. His tenure at Northwood was highlighted by coaching an individual NCAA National Champion.
Coach Kavalunas is a USA Track & Field Level III certified coach in mid-distance/distance events and a Level II coach in sprints/hurdles. He also holds a certification from United Kingdom Athletics in middle distance.
He is a 1987 graduate of Grand Valley University with a degree in physical education and completed his master’s at Central Michigan University in 1990. He began his coaching career at Central Michigan, where he served as a graduate assistant for the cross country and track & field programs.
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