STORM LAKE, Iowa (July 20, 2023) - Buena Vista University Director of Athletics Scott Brown has announced the hiring of Charlie Pruitt as the university's next head women's and men's cross country coach. 

Pruitt has been serving as an assistant cross country and track & field coach at Division I Moorhead State University since 2021. Prior to that, Pruitt spent one season in the same role at Eastern Mennonite University and also had stops at Chadron State College in Nebraska from 2018-2020 and Fort Defiance High School (2017). 

"I am excited to add Coach Pruitt to our athletics department staff," says Brown. "I was impressed with his desire to not only be a head coach, but to be the head coach at Buena Vista University. His achievements as a student-athlete combined with the success he has had early in his coaching career will prove valuable for our current and future cross country and track and field student-athletes."   

Pruitt was a four-year student-athlete himself at Christopher Newport University (CNU) in both cross country and track & field. He was an All-Conference selection in cross country and a national qualifier during his junior campaign in 2015. On the track, Pruitt was a two-time conference champion in the 10,000-meter run. 

"I am blessed and honored to be named the next head cross country coach for BVU," says Pruitt. "I can't wait to get started and get to better know the student-athletes. We have a promising group of young men and women, and I am excited to share my love of cross country and track with them." 

"I believe we can continue building success in the A-R-C and nationally, as well as continuing to succeed in the classroom," adds Pruitt. "I want to thank Scott Brown and everyone involved in the selection process for giving me this opportunity, as well as my mentors for helping me in my coaching career so far. I am excited at what the future holds for BVU cross country and track & field." 

A 2017 graduate of CNU, Pruitt earned a bachelor's degree in business management along with a concentration in marketing and management. He later went on to earn his master's degree in organizational management from Chadron State in 2020.