PORTLAND, Ore.—Concordia athletics director Matt English announced today Isaac Frederick has resigned as the Cavaliers' director of track & field and cross country with assistant coach Jerret Mantalas taking over the role on an interim basis for the entire 2014-15 season.

"This was a very difficult decision to make as I love this team, Concordia University and the sport of track and field. However, with the recent addition to our family, being the best parent I can be is the most important thing to me and I've realized that I need to be more involved and present more often in their lives," Frederick said.

Frederick recently completed his second year in charge of the Concordia track & field and cross country programs. Last season, Frederick led the CU men's track & field team to a runner-up result at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships and third-place finishes at the NAIA Indoor and Outdoor National Championships.

In two years, six of his teams placed inside the top 10 at an NAIA National Championship while 31 new school records were established during his tenure.

"I want to thank Isaac for running a first-class program the past two years. He has worked tirelessly to build a program with a culture of integrity and hard work. He has recruited fantastic young men and women who represent Concordia well in all aspects. While we are disappointed to lose a valued colleague, we wish Isaac and his family nothing but the best moving forward," English said.

Prior to Concordia, Frederick was a top assistant at Western Oregon University, his alma mater, for seven seasons. Frederick continues to hold WOU's school record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.59.

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity Matt English gave me and Concordia will always be a special place for me. I will really miss this group of student-athletes. They were a very special group who accomplished so much on and off the track," Frederick said.

Before arriving at Concordia in the fall of 2013, Mantalas was the head cross country and assistant track & field coach at Clackamas Community College where he guided both the men's and women's programs to three straight top-two regional finishes.

Prior to his stay at Clackamas, Mantalas was a colleague of Frederick at Western Oregon; spending five seasons with the Wolves track & field and cross country teams. Mantalas graduated from Western Oregon University in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and a minor in health. Mantalas has also earned his USATF level one certification.

"I'm incredibly excited for the opportunity to take over a program like Concordia," Mantalas said. "Isaac has established an outstanding culture here over the past two years and my job is to make sure the ship continues to move forward. It's bittersweet for me that I won't be working alongside my friend for the next steps into NCAA Division II, but I feel I'm up for the challenge and ready to step up into a larger role."

Coming off a successful first season that featured 19 All-America performances with the Cavaliers, two-time Olympian Jared Rome will continue to work with the throws group and manage the Concordia Throw Center.

In addition to Mantalas' promotion, assistant Branko Djuricic, a four-time NAIA All-American for Concordia in the triple jump and the high jump, will receive enhanced duties to work with the CU jumpers and multi-event athletes while Mantalas will begin an immediate search to add an assistant coach for sprints and hurdles.

"Jerret is an incredibly talented young coach and I know he will continue to build on the foundation Isaac has established," English said. "They have similar philosophies and the program won't miss a beat. I am fully confident Concordia Cross Country and Track & Field will continue to flourish under the leadership of Jerret and our high caliber group of assistant coaches."