RIVER FOREST, ILL. – Steve Belanger, who coached two of the most historic athletes in Concordia University Chicago history to a combined three National Championships as well as first time appearances in the United States Olympic Trials, has announced his departure. Belanger has accepted a position at Division I institution William & Mary University in Williamsburg, Va.
"We appreciate everything Coach Belanger has done over the past four years as our track and field coach," said Director of Athletics Janet Wolbert. "The accomplishments made under his guidance have been impressive, to say the least. He and his student-athletes have definitively made an incredible impact not only on the Track and Field program, but Cougar Athletics as a whole. We wish him the best and God's blessings to him and his family as he moves onto his next step in his vocation."
During his time at the head of the men and women's track and field program, Belanger has accumulated a multitude of achievements. After arriving in July of 2019, Belanger's first season leading the Cougars was cut short due to Covid-19, but not before the team set eight school records and secured three All-American achievements.
The 2021 season brought three more All-Americans and seven more school records, in addition to five Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) records. In the spring of 2021, Belanger would coach
Simone Wilson (Minneapolis, Minn.) to her first National Championship in the 400m hurdles, the first National Championship in school history. In addition to coaching Wilson's individual success, Belanger led to two Midwest Elite Championships and two Academic All-Americans.
The 2022 season will go down as the most successful in school history. Under Belanger's direction, the Cougars captured two more national titles, with
Simone Wilson and
Kayla Armstrong securing the top spot at outdoor nationals in May. In total, four student-athletes qualified for both indoor and outdoor nationals. To cap off the successful year, Wilson and Armstrong both qualified for the historic USA Championships held in Eugene, Oregon.
During the 2023 campaign, Belanger took three athletes to the NCAA Outdoor National Championship as they all closed their history careers under his direction.
Madeline Bobinski (Des Plaines, Ill.) closed her career ranked 16
th in the nation,
Kayla Armstrong (Chicago, Ill.) closed her career with one National Championship under her belt and a multitude of All-American accolades, and Wilson closed her career with two National Championships and a multitude of All-American accolades.
Prior to his time at CUC, Belanger spent time as an assistant track and field/cross country coach at Boston College and Quinnipiac University.
Belanger will be returning to his roots on the East Coast as an assistant track and field coach for the Tribe.
The Concordia University Chicago athletic department is committed to continue the success of the program and has begun the search for the next head coach effective immediately.
