Minnesota State University - Mankato Athletics

Chris Parno enters his 14th season as the Associate Head Coach for Track and Field at Minnesota State University in 2025-26, where he leads the men’s and women’s sprint, hurdle & relay groups and serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator. Under his leadership, Maverick sprinters and hurdlers have achieved unprecedented success, consistently rewriting school records and establishing MSU as a national powerhouse in the sprints and hurdles within NCAA Division II.

Parno’s coaching philosophy blends technical instruction with a strong developmental approach, resulting in numerous All-American performances and national champions. His impact extends beyond the collegiate level—as a respected educator in the coaching community, Parno serves as a lead instructor for USA Track & Field’s Level 1 certification program and contributes as an instructor for both Level 2 and Level 3 courses. His commitment to the sport and coach education has positioned him as a sought-after mentor and clinician nationwide.

Coaching Honors: 
-2025 USTFCCCA Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region
-2024-2025 NSIC Indoors Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
-2024 NSIC Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
-2023-2024 USTFCCCA NATIONAL Indoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
-2023-2024 USTFCCCA Indoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region
-2023-2024 NSIC Indoors Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
-2023 USTFCCCA Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region
-2023 NSIC Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
-2022-2023 NSIC Indoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
-2022 USTFCCCA NATIONAL Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
-2022 USTFCCCA Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region
-2022 NSIC Outdoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
-2021-2022 USTFCCCA NATIONAL Indoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
-2021-2022 USTFCCCA Indoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region
-2021-2022 NSIC Indoors Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
-2021 NSIC Outdoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
-2020-2021 USTFCCCA NATIONAL Indoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
-2020-2021 USTFCCCA Indoor Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region
-2019-2020 USTFCCCA NATIONAL Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year Finalist (top 3)
-2019-2020 NSIC Indoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year 
-2019 USTFCCCA Outdoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region
-2018-2019 NSIC Outdoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year 
-2018-2019 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region
-2018-2019 NSIC Indoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year 
-2017-2018 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region
-2016-2017 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region
-2015-2016 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region
-2015 USTFCCCA Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region
-2014-2015 USTFCCCA Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year – Central Region

Coaching Certifications:
-USATF Mid-American Level 1 Regional Education Coordinator (course director)
-USATF Level 1 Certification (2011)
-USATF Level 2 Sprint/Hurdle/Relays Certification (2015)
-USATF Level 2 Jumps Certification (2016)
-USATF Level 3 Sprints/Hurdles/Relays (2017)
-USATF Emerging Elite Sprints/Hurdle/Relay Clinic (2014)
-USATF Instructor Training (2018)
-IAAF Level 5 Sprints Certification (2017)
-USTFCCCA Technical Certification (2011)
-USTFCCCA Track and Field Program Management Certification (2013)
-USTFCCCA Sprint, Hurdle, and Relay Event Specialist (2013)
-USTFCCCA Combined Events Specialist (2014)
-USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning Advanced Endorsement (2015)
-USTFCCCA Short Sprints Masters Endorsement – (2017)
-USTFCCCA Hurdle Masters Endorsement  (2018)
-Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR) Level 1 (2018)
-ALTIS Short Sprints Course (2020)
-ALTIS Short Hurdle Course (2021)
 
Symposium/Clinic Presentations:
-2016 Minnesota Track and Field Coaches Association Clinic
-2017 Minnesota Track and Field Coaches Association Clinic
-2018 Illinois Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association Clinic (ITCCCA)
-2018 Wisconsin Track Coaches Association Clinic – Madison, WI
-2018 North Dakota Coach Clinic (NDHSCA)
-2018 USTFCCCA National Convention – San Antonio, TX
-2019 Lead Instructor – USTFCCCA Technical Certificate – Mankato, MN
-2020 Minnesota Track and Field Coaches Association Clinic
-2020-2024 Zoom Coaching Clinic Series – Mankato, MN
-2020 National All-Sports Virtual Coaches Summit
-2020 Championship Virtual Track Coaches Clinic
-2021 Indiana Virtual Coaches Clinic  
-2022 Wisconsin Track Coaches Association Clinic – Madison, WI
-2022 Virtual Speed and Power Clinic (VSPC)
-2022 Illinois Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association Clinic (ITCCCA)
-2023 Minnesota Track and Field Coaches Association Clinic
-2023 Gold Medal Coaches Summit - Online
-2023 USTFCCCA National Convention - Denver, CO
-2024 North Polk Alleman Track and Field Clinic - Des Moines, IA
-2024 Indiana IATCCC Clinic - Indianapolis, IN
-2024 Gold Medal Coaches Summit - Online
-2024 Missouri High School Coaches Association HS Clinic – Columbia, MO

-USATF Mid-American Level 1 Regional Education Coordinator (course director)
   -August 2021 Level 1 Course
   -August 2021 Level 1 Course
   -November 2021 Level 1 Course
   -January 2022 Level 1 Course
   -May 2022 Level 1 Course
   -June 2022 Level 1 Course
   -November 2022 level 1 Course
   -March 2023 Level 1 Course
   -August 2023 Level 1 Course
   -October 2023 Level 1 Course
   -December 2023 Level 1 Course
   -March 2024 Level 1 Course
  -June 2024 Level 1 Course
  -February 2025 Level 1 Course
 -USATF Level 2 Instructor
   -July 2022
   -July 2023
-USATF Level 3 Advisor
   -December 2023
   -December 2024
 
Publications/Podcasts
-Techniques Magazine – Short Sprint Rhythm – November 2017
-Techniques Magazine – Young Coaches Roadmap – November 2018
-Simplifaster – Freelap Friday Five – 2017
-Simplifaster – When and When Not to Use Track Drills – 2018
-Simplifaster – Hurdle Technical Drills Simplified – 2019
-Gill Athletics: Track and Field Connections Podcast - 2020
-Simplifaster – Pet Peeves of Track and Field – 2021
-Championship Productions – Sprint Starts and Acceleration Series - 2021
-Championship Productions – Front-side Mechanics & Maximum Velocity in Sprinting Series - 2021
-Championship Productions – Developing Great Hurdlers Series – 2021
-Championship Productions – Speed of the Stick – Building High Performing Relays Series – 2021
-On The Track Podcast w/ JT Ayers – 2022
-USATF Track Coaches Magazine - Coaches Round Table 2023
-LANE LINES – Track and Field Newsletter – 2023
   -Volume 1 – “You only know what you know.”
   -Volume 2 – “The pre-meet/meet day warm-up.”
   -Volume 3 – “Just keep swimming.”
   -Volume 4 - “Testing in Track and Field: Is It Truly Beneficial?”
-CoachTube
   -Hurdle Drills Webinar (2023)
   -Sprint Drills Webinar (2023)
   -Training Large Groups Webinar (2023)
 
 Parno and his wife Sarah reside in North Mankato with their children August and Madelyn