EUGENE, Ore. – Northwest Christian University announced on Thursday that Tom Boldon has been hired as Director of Track & Field and Head Cross Country Coach.
Boldon brings over 30 years of coaching experience to the table, most recently including a three-year stint as the head cross country and track coach at Elmira High School. Previously, Boldon was an assistant cross country and head distance track coach at Sheldon High.
Boldon said, “I want to thank Athletic Director Corey Anderson, Vice President Michael Fuller, Associate Athletic Director Sarah Freeman, and President Joe Womack for this tremendous opportunity. I have watched this program from near and far over the years and I am humbled that I was considered to help lead the program moving forward. I am excited to get started with recruiting and preparing for the upcoming Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field seasons.”
Anderson said, “We welcome Tom with open arms to the NCU Athletics family! Tom has been a positive fixture in the Eugene/Springfield area for almost 30 years while working with Kidsports, Norkenzie Christian Church, Sheldon and Elmira High Schools as well as the City of Junction City. Through all of these positions Tom’s strength of communication, organization and managing people has led him to success at all stops along his professional trail. We are more than excited to have Tom be our new leader for both cross country and track & field with the challenge to maintain the success while also having focus on growth for both programs.”
Most recently, Boldon also worked as the Community Service Director for the City of Junction City, a role he has held since 2014. In that position, Boldon oversaw five areas of the department including the community center, senior center, parks, pool, and library.
An extensive background in leadership in the Eugene-Springfield area dates back to the late 1980’s when he began coaching and working on staff at Emerald Kidsports. Over the next 11 years, Coach Boldon worked his way up the ranks, from Program Director to Vice President of Development and eventually Executive Vice President.
Boldon was in position to soon become the CEO of Kidsports, but felt a call to leave the organization to begin working in youth ministry. He spent the next 17 years as the high school pastor at Norkenzie Christian Church. In addition to teaching and mentoring, Boldon lead multiple short-term mission trips and directed summer camps, retreats, and other outreach events.
Boldon replaces former Cross Country and Distance Track coach Heike McNeil. “Coach McNeil has done a great job building this program,” said Boldon, “and I am blessed to have the opportunity to continue that work. Being able to coach at the college level is a dream come true.”
“While obviously replacing Coach Heike McNeil are simply just words and not the expectation,” added Anderson, “Tom’s experience and knowledge in cross country and distance coaching will enable him to be in a position to establish a new era of NCU Cross Country and Distance in moving forward.”
McNeil said, “Tom is a great guy that sincerely cares about his athletes. As hard as it going to be to step away from this, it is much easier to do so knowing that my athletes will be taken care. He will do a great job leading them and making strides to more fully unify all the parts of our track team.
While Coach Boldon will soon be finalizing his staff for the up and coming distance track season, he will be supported in his Director of Track and Field position by Associate Head Coach George Walcott (sprints/jumps) along with current Assistant Coaches Paula Berry (throws) and Aaron Lamb (jumps). Boldon is set to begin his duties on November 5.