Minnesota State University - Mankato Athletics

Ben Held enters his ninth-year coaching with the Mavericks. Hired in the summer of 2018, Held is in his eighth season as the men's head cross country coach at Minnesota State and ninth year as an assistant track & field coach where he also coaches the pole vault and high jump.

In his nine years with the Mavericks, Held has coached 22 NCAA DII All-Americans, 199 NCAA DII Provisional Qualifying marks, 19 NCAA DII USTFCCCA Central All-Region Honors in the pole vault, high jump and distance events, 29 NCAA DII All-Academic Honors, 74 First Team All-NSIC Honors, seven Minnesota State school records, and helped the men’s and women’s teams capture their 29th and 11th consecutive NSIC Conference Championships as well as a women’s 2022 NCAA DII Indoor National Title, four National Runner-Ups, two 3^rd place finishes and one 4th place finish.

Before Minnesota State, Held spent two seasons at Notre Dame College (Ohio), where he coached six NCAA Division II provisional qualifiers, five USTFCCCA Atlantic All-Region honorees, 10 First Team All-MEC performers, and athletes who set 11 school records.

Held previously served as a graduate assistant at Black Hills State (2013-16), earning his master's degree while helping coach an NCAA Division II national champion, six All-Americans, 30 First Team All-RMAC athletes, and 14 school record holders.

A 2012 graduate of St. Cloud State, Held was a multi-time all-conference hurdler before returning to coach the hurdles for two seasons.

Held By-The-Numbers
1 NCAA DII National Team Championship
4 NCAA DII National Team Runner-Up’s
2 NCAA DII National Third Place Finishes
1 NCAA DII National Fourth Place Finish
1 NCAA DII National Champion (Steeplechase)
1 NCAA DII National Runner-Up (Pole Vault)
22 NCAA DII All-Americans
170 NCAA DII National Qualifiers
19 NCAA DII USTFCCCA Central All-Region Student-Athletes
5 NCAA DII USTFCCCA Atlantic All-Region Student-Athletes
7 Minnesota State University School Records
11 Notre Dame College School Records
14 Black Hills State University School Records
74 First Team All-NSIC Athletes
10 First Team All-MEC in Jumps & Multi-Events
30 First Team All- RMAC Athletes

Coaching Certifications
USATF Level 1 Certification
USATF Level 2 Sports Science Certification
USATF Level 2 Jumps Certification
USTFCCCA Technical Certification
USTFCCCA Jumps Certification
USTFCCCA Endurance Certification
USTFCCCA Combined Events Certification
USTFCCCA Strength & Conditioning Certification
ALTIS Pole Vault Certification
ALTIS Endurance Events Certification
ALTIS Javelin & Hammer Certification
RPR Level 1 Certification