DULUTH, Minn. – College of St. Scholsatica Alum Jason Kask '08 has been chosen to lead the Men's and Women's Nordic Skiing programs, Director of Athletics Jessica Cherry announced Tuesday. Kask is set to be the third head coach in program history.

"We are extremely excited and are celebrating Jason's return back home to lead our Nordic Skiing programs," said Cherry. "Jason is a well rounded professional who has come full circle to a place of treasured memories. I am happy that Jason will get to re-experience CSS from a different lens and bring his knowledge and valuable experiences of Nordic Skiing to the student-athletes."

"I'm thrilled to return to St. Scholastica to lead the Nordic Ski Team," stated Kask. "I've cherished the memories of racing for the Saints as a founding member of the Nordic Ski Team and have watched the skiers that came after continue to build upon each other's success and create such a great culture of skiing at St. Scholastica. The CSS Ski Team has also had the wonderful stewardship of previous head coaches, who continued to bring the program to new heights. I am excited to build upon these successes as the program moves forward."

Kask was a member of the Nordic Skiing and Cross Country teams at CSS, he would go on to earn a degree in exercise physiology. He completed his master's degree in Applied Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota, specializing in sport and exercise science and is currently pursuing his doctorate in Leadership in Health and Human Performance. 

In addition to owning and operating Superior Performance since 2009, he has worked for USA Triathlon's high-performance department. There he helped prepare athletes for the London Olympic Games. He also served as the physiologist for the U.S. Paralympics Nordic Ski Team, coaching and providing race service at three Paralympic games, and worked with the USA Paratriathlon Team. 

"I want to thank the hiring committee for this opportunity", Kask said. "I would also like to thank all my coaches and those that I have had the privilege to coach alongside and who have helped me continue to improve. I can't wait to meet the team and carry on the hard work the athletes have begun prior to my rejoining the team."

Jason is a certified coach through the United States Ski and Snowboard Association and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He resides in Duluth with his wife, Katie, and two children, Tuuli and Otto. 

Kask's official start date will be on Monday, August 21.

For future information on the St. Scholastica skiing programs; keep checking csssaints.com.