Since Jim Fuller took over the Northern State University track and field and cross country teams in 1988, the Wolves have consistently fielded top teams on a conference, regional and national scale.
Under Fuller’s guidance, Northern State’s men’s and women’s track and field teams have placed in the top 35 at the NCAA II and NAIA National Championships 20 times. During Fuller’s 23 years as the NSU Track and Field Coach and 16 years as the NSU Cross Country coach his teams have placed in the top four in 99 of 123 NSIC championship events, winning six team championships.
Fuller has been named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Track and Field Coach of the Year six times and NSIC Cross Country Coach of the Year five times. He has overseen 53 NCAA Division II and NAIA All-American performances, and has guided 214 athletes to 806 All-NSIC performances and 27 NSIC MVP Awards in track and cross country.
Fuller’s teams excel not only on the track, but also in the classroom. During his tenure, Northern State track and field and cross country athletes have earned individual Academic All-American honors 47 times. Even more impressively, the women’s cross country and track and field teams have earned NCAA II national academic team honors for 16 consecutive years (that’s 32 national academic team awards), meaning they haven’t missed the national academic honor since moving under the NCAA II ranks.
Respected nationally for his record of excellence and knowledge of his sport, Fuller has served as president of the NCAA II Cross Country Coaches Association. He has also been a referee and head referee at four NAIA national track and field meets.
Fuller attended Doane College in Crete, Neb., graduating Magna Cum Laude with elementary education and physical education degrees. A two-time captain for Doane’s cross country team, he was the top runner in Doane’s traditionally strong program as a junior. He was a 1984 NAIA Academic All-American and earned six letters in cross country and track and field.
Fuller earned his master’s degree in education while serving as a graduate assistant at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1987. His first job out of college was as an assistant track and field and cross country coach at Doane.
Jim and his wife of 27 years, Brenda, have three sons, Aaron (21), Tyler (21) and Drew (5).
