| Head Coach, Women’s Cross Country/Assistant Men's & Women's Track and Field Coach/Director of Operations - Distance - Jen Blue |
Education:
- Minnesota State University Mankato (M.A. Sport Administration, 2001)
- North Dakota State University (Bachelor of Arts, 1998)
Competing Career:
- 4-time NSIC All-Conference (800 meters)
- NCAA Division II National qualifier (1997, 1998)
- Winner - 2010 Mankato Marathon
- Boston Marathon qualifier
Coaching History:
- Minnesota State, 2001-Present
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Blue By-The-Numbers
as Minnesota State Head Women's Track & Field Coach (2000-16)
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- 19 NSIC Team Championships
- 73 NCAA All-Americans
- 8 NCAA Individual National Champions
- 35 Outdoor Conference Champions
- 34 Indoor Conference Champions
- 6 – Top 10 National finishers (4 indoor, 2 outdoor)
- 3 – Conference Titles (2 indoor, 1 outdoor)
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| as Minnesota State Head Cross Country Coach (2000-Present) |
- 3 NCAA All-Americans
- 1 NCAA National Team Qualifier (16th, 2022)
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| as Minnesota State Assistant Men's & Women's Track & Field Coach (2017-Present) |
- 1 NCAA Division II National Team Championship
- 3 NCAA Division II National Team Runner-Up
- 9 NCAA All-Americans
- 8 NCAA Individual National Champions
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Hired to lead the Mavericks in 2000-01, veteran head coach
Jen Blue has built the Minnesota State women's cross country team into one of the top programs in the upper Midwest. Blue is also the Director of Operations for the Minnesota State track and field programs and works with the women's distance runners.
In 2022-23, Blue led the Maverick women's cross country team to a second place finish at the NSIC Championships. She then guided the team to third place at the NCAA Central Region Championships and 16th place at the NCAA Championships in Seattle, Washington, led by All-Americans Amanda Montplaisir and Makenna Thurston.
In 2021-22, Blue's team placed fourth in the conference and 11th at the Central Region Championships. In 2019, the Mavericks placed fourth in both the NSIC and Central Region Championships.
A USATF Level 1 certified coach, Blue has mentored student-athletes to nine national NCAA national championships during her tenure at Minnesota State and guided three cross country All-Americans.
The Mankato native served a 16-year stint as head coach of the Minnesota State women's track & field program where she coached pole vaulter
Amanda Frame to the first national track and field title for Maverick women’s track when she claimed the NCAA Division II indoor TF championship in 2004. Frame gained another indoor national title in 2005 and
Katelin Rains earned three consecutive indoor pole vault national titles (2007, 2008 and 2009) and an outdoor title (2009) before
Lauren Stelten captured NCAA DII indoor and outdoor championships in 2011.
Blue has guided All-American student-athletes in eight indoor and outdoor events, including Alissa Kurke (800m, 2005), Haley Kruger (800m, 2017, 2018), Amanda Montplaisir (3000m, 2023), and the MSU distance medley relay (2023) team. Outdoor All-Americans include Haley Kruger (800m, 2016), Bethany Otteson (steeplechase, 2003) and Amanda Montplaisir (steeplechase, 2022, 2023). Indoor conference champions include Haley Kruger (600m, 2016), Bobbi Patrick (600m 2018), Alissa Kurke (800m, 2005) and Amanda Montplaisir (3000m, 2023). Outdoor conference champions include Haley Kruger (800m, 2016), MaKenna Thurston (800m, 2023) and Amanda Montplasir (3000m steeplechase, 2022, 2023)
Blue was named the
Northern Sun Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year in 2008 and
2009 North Central Region Coach of the Year after leading the Mavericks to a league indoor NSIC track & field championship. She also earned
2003 North Central Conference Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year honors.
Blue played an integral planning and organizing role in Minnesota State successfully hosting the 2008 and 2012 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.
A 1998 graduate of North Dakota State University, Blue was a member of the 1995 and 1996 NCC indoor and outdoor championship teams. A four-time all-conference runner in the 800-meter run, Blue also qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships in 1997 and 1998.
In the spring of 2001, Blue received a master’s degree in sports administration from MSU. An avid runner, Blue has competed in several marathons (including Boston) and captured the women's title at the 2010 Mankato Marathon.
Blue and her husband Darren reside in North Mankato, Minn., with their son Carter.
