Bryan Hagopian
Head Men's Cross Country Head Coach
Bryan Hagopian enters his second season at the helm of Nova Southeastern University's men's and women's cross country and track and field programs. During his first year with the Sharks, Hagopian coached both programs to multiple records during both the cross country and track and field seasons. On the women's side, Krystal Porter and Brooke Hurley became the first two runners in the women's cross country history to run sub-19:00 in the 5K. Meanwhile, Porter also set the women's cross country 6K record with a time of 22:58 at the Sunshine State Conference Championships, becoming the first harrier in program history to run sub-23:00 in a 6K. During the track season, records were set in 10 track events as well as in three field events as the Sharks competed in field events for the first time since the track and field program began in 2006. Most notably for NSU's women's team during the track and field season was Kyley Jorgensen, who as a freshman provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships in the 100 meters.
On the men's side, both Jeff Palmer and Eskender Abdalla recorded cross country's first-ever sub-26:00 8K times. Palmer ultimately ran NSU records in the 8K and the 10K with his 32:25 in the 10K at the NCAA Division II South Regional Championships being nearly two minutes faster than anyone else on NSU's all-time top 10K times. In the spring, the men's track and field team produced multiple program and individual best performances. Michael Wilson became the first athlete in program history to provisionally qualify for the NCAA Division II National championships in two events. Wilson, who provisionally qualified standards in the 200 meters in 2008, met the provisional times in both the 100 and 200 meters.
Hagopian came to NSU with extensive coaching experience. Prior to coming to NSU, Hagopian served as the assistant men's and women's track and field coach at Division I's Louisiana-Lafayette. From 2004-2006, Hagopian was the men's and women's cross country and track and field head coach at the College of Mount Saint Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. He founded the inaugural mens and womens track and field teams for the Lions, while the cross country team garnered All-Region honors.
He was also Upper Iowa's assistant men's and women's cross country and track and field coach from 2002-2003, helping the Peacocks' cross-country teams to All-Conference and All-Region accolades.
Hagopian began his collegiate head coaching career at Mount Senario College. He founded the first-ever cross country team for the Fighting Saints and coached three track and field national qualifiers.
Hagopian earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physical Education and Coaching from Hastings (Neb.) College, and a Master of Science Degree in Athletic Administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
