Assistant Coach Ben Held
Head Coach Men's Cross Country |
Education:
- St. Cloud State University (B. S. Social Studies, 2012)
- Black Hills State University (Masters – Strategic Leadership, 2016)
Competing Career:
- 2x All North Central Conference Team (hurdles)
- 2x All NSIC Conference Teams (hurdles)
Coaching History
- Minnesota State 2018-Present
- Notre Dame College 2016-2018
- Black Hills State, 2013-2016
- St. Cloud State 2011-2013
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| Held By-The-Numbers |
- 1 NCAA DII National Team Championship
- 4 NCAA DII National Team Runner-Ups
- 2 NCAA DII National Third Place Finishes
- 1 NCAA DII National Champion (Steeplechase)
- 1 NCAA DII National Runner-Up (Pole Vault)
- 19 NCAA DII All-Americans
- 168 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 School Records
- 11 Notre Dame College School Records
- 14 Black Hills State School Records
- 59 First Team All-NSIC Athletes
- 10 First Team All-MEC in Jumps & Multi Events
- 30 First Team All-RMAC Athletes
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Ben Held enters his eighth-year coaching with the Mavericks in 2025-26. Hired in the summer of 2018, Held is in his seventh season as the men's head cross country coach at Minnesota State and his eighth year as an assistant track & field coach where he also coaches the pole vault and high jump.
In his eight years with the Mavericks, Held has coached 19 NCAA DII All-Americans, 168 NCAA DII Provisional Qualifying marks, 19 NCAA DII USTFCCCA Central All-Region Honors in the pole vault and distance events, 27 NCAA DII All-Academic Honors, 59 First Team All-NSIC Honors, seven Minnesota State school records, and helped the men’s team capture their 27th consecutive NSIC Conference Championship as well as a women’s 2022 NCAA DII Indoor National Title, four National Runner-Ups and two 3rd place finishes.
Prior to assisting with the Mavericks in 2018-19, Held was an assistant coach for two years at Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio. While at Notre Dame College, Held led his student-athletes to six NCAA DII provisional qualifying marks, five NCAA DII USTFCCCA Atlantic All-Region honors in the jump events, 10 First Team All-MEC in jumps & multi-events and 11 Notre Dame College school records
He also spent 2013-16 as a graduate assistant at Black Hills State, where he earned a master's degree while helping coach an NCAA DII national champion in the steeplechase and was a member of a staff that developed six All-Americans, 30 First Team All-RMAC performers and had 14 individuals established school records.
Held is a 2012 St. Cloud State grad who competed in the hurdles and was a multiple time all-conference athlete. After his athletic career, he coached the hurdles at SCSU for two years.
Coaching Certifications
USATF Level 1 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
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