Fayette, Mo. CMU Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Mark Nelson announced on Tuesday that both Jacob Portock and Jacob Dennis-Oehling are joining the cross country and track & field coaching staffs as graduate assistants in time for the 2015-16 season.
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"I am excited to add two young and energetic coaches to my staff this year," said Nelson. "The CMU Eagle track and cross country programs just added two coaches that have a bright future in this sport and we are lucky to have them."
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Jacob Portock comes to CMU from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania; where he graduated this past spring. Portock spent the last two years competing on the cross country team at Mansfield University. Prior to attending Mansfield University, Portock attended Division 1 St. Francis University in Pennsylvania; where he competed in both cross country and track & field during his freshman and sophomore seasons. Portock will assist Coach Nelson with the distance runners during the cross country and track seasons.
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"Jake Portock brings an excitement and love for distance running and a desire to eventually be a head coach at the collegiate level," added Nelson.�"He comes from a great program, and I am excited to see what he will add to ours."
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The second new addition to Mark Nelson's staff, is Jacob Dennis-Oehling. Dennis-Oehling joins CMU after spending a year as the assistant jumps coach at the University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire. While at UW-Eau Claire, Dennis-Oehling assisted with the 2015 NCAA Division III Indoor National champion teams, as both the men's and the women's team finished as the runner-up. He also coached the WIAC triple jump All-American and conference champion in Cody Prince.
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"Jacob Dennis-Oehling had a tremendous career as a long sprinter in college, and his experience there will benefit our young team," said Nelson.�"He has experience as a coach in a national-caliber program at the NCAA Division III level and I look forward to seeing what he can share with our program about his experiences."
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Jacob Portock and Jacob Dennis-Oehling will spend the next two years learning about all of the different event areas in addition to their coaching duties as graduate assistants.
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For more information about Central Methodist University athletics, visit http://www.cmueagles.com. Follow CMU athletics on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cmathletics and on Twitter twitter.com/cmueagles.
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