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Joe Stephens

Joe Stephens

Joe Stephens was named the  Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology on May 17, 2022 and brings close to 20 years of collegiate coaching experience with him. He is in his second year at the institution.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • Named the Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at South Dakota Mines in May of 2022.
  • Prior to South Dakota Mines, Stephens was the head coach of cross country and an assistant track & field coach at Division III Bethel University (Minn.) for 7+ years.
  • Experience at the highest level is there when it comes to Stephens, as he had two successful stints at the University of Wyoming (2012-2015) as the recruiting coordinator and long distance coach and Colorado State University as an assistant coach (2008-2012).
  • Before getting the Division I opportunities, Stephens was in familiar territory, coaching and teaching at Black Hills State.
  • Prior to moving to the black hills, Stephens’ first collegiate coaching position was as a Graduate Assistant with Fort Hays State University, also taking on some teaching duties there.
  • In 2003, while still a student-athlete, Stephens’ initial coaching opportunity came with Yankton High School as the assistant cross country coach.
  • Stephens has collegiate running experience, being a part of the team at Oral Roberts University from 2000-2001, Mount Marty College from 2001-03 and an outdoor season at Fort Hays State (2004).
  • Stephens earned a bachelor’s degree in recreation management (2003) and a master’s degree in sports administration (2004).
HARDROCKERS IN COMPETITION

2023-24

Track & Field
  • South Dakota Mines had one of its best years in school history and certainly its best of the Division II and RMAC Eras.
  • At the conclusion of the outdoor season, there were 50 new top 10s (26 mens, 24 women's) and six (four men's, two women's) new school records. 
  • The men's outdoor finish at the RMAC Championships was the best-ever as they finished in sixth with 45 points.
  • On the men's side, they finished the outdoor conference championships with six all-conference finishes, while the women had two all-conference finishers, with Jaycie Stubbs taking a fourth straight RMAC Championship in the javelin.
  • Through the end of the indoor season 47 (25 men's, 22 women's) new top 10s were set, including five new school records.
  • Four student-athletes earned all-conference selections at the Indoor RMAC Championships. 
Cross Country
  • The Hardrockers took home three top four finishes thourghout the season on the men's side, indluding a second-place finish at Black Hills State and a first-place finish at MSU Billings.
  • Stephens helped lead the women's team to a pair of top two finishes, picking up first place at Black Hills State, while taking second place at MSU Billings.
  • Clare Fischer and Tyler Captain set records at MSU Billings with Clare Fischer setting a school record in the 6K, running a time of 21:54.4, while Captain finished the 8K in 24:59.8 to set a DII era school record. 
2022-23

Track & Field
  • The men won seven individual titles throughout the outdoor season, while the women won eight titles.
  • Jacyie Stubbs took home her third consecutive conference championship in the javelin, while the Hardrockers finished with three additional podims at the RMAC Championships.
  • Eight athletes earned all-conference honors at the RMAC Championships. 
  • Throughout the outdoor season, Stephens helped lead the team to set three school records and 40 Hardrocker top 10 marks. 
  • Stephens guided 12 different individual male winners throughoout the indoor season.
  • As a team, the men took home first place at the Dave Little Alumni Mile, while taking second at the Yellow Jacket Open.
  • On the women's side, they earned six individual titles, while taking home second place finishes at the Yellow Jacket Open and third at the Dave Little Alumni Mile.
  • Stephens coaches Jade Cass to a championship in the high jump at the RMAC Championships, where Cass was also named Co-Male Athlete of the Meet.
  • Overall, throughout the indoor season, the Hardrockers set 25 new Hardrocker top 10 marks and five new school records. 
  • A total of six student-athletes earned indoor all-conference honors.
Cross Country
  • The Hardrockers saw improvement immediately under Joe Stephens direction, taking home two top-three finishes at Black Hills State (3rd) and MSU Billings (2nd) on the men's side.
  • On the women's side, they saw similar results, taking home second place at Black HIlls State and fourth place at MSU Billings. 
HARDROCKERS IN THE CLASSROOM
  • Following the 2023 fall semester, three of four teams carried cumulative GPAs of 3.4 or above.
  • 18 student-athletes recorded perfect 4.0 GPAs in fall of 2023. 
  • 7 student-athletes carried 4.0 cumulative GPAs following the fall semester of 2023. 
  • Overall, 64 student-athletes have been named to the RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll under Stephens. 
  • The men's and women's track & field teams earned USTFCCCA All-Academic in 2023.
  • The male and female Cross Country teams and male track & field team earned USTFCCCA All-Academic in 2022. 
  • One student-athlete has earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors. 
HELPING BETHEL EARN THEIR CROWNS

TRACK & FIELD
  • In 2022 the women’s track team won an indoor Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) championships.
  • At the national championships in 2022, the men's track & field team placed 8th.
  • Helped coach six individuals and six relay teams to earn All-American honors.
  • Seven student-athletes qualified for the national championships.
  • School records were set in the 5000 meter, Distance Medley Relay, and 4 x 800 meter relay.
  • Conference championships won in the 800 meter (three times), 4 x 800 meter and 5000 meter.
CROSS COUNTRY
  • The men’s cross country team improved from 11th in the MIAC to a 4th place finish in 2018.
  • The women’s cross country team improved from 9th place to a 4th place finish in 2021.
  • Coached three All-Americans.
  • During his tenure, six student-athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships.Coached Matt Berens to a 9th place finish at the 2015 NCAA Championships.
TEACHING WYOMING TO RIDE

TRACK & FIELD
  • Men’s and Women’s mid-long distance groups combined for 125 total points at 2014 Mountain West Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
  • Women’s Indoor team improved in Mountain West from last in 2012 to Runner-Up in 2014.
  • Men’s Indoor/Outdoor teams improved in MWC from last in 2012 to 5th in 2014.
  • 2015 MWC Women’s Indoor 3000M Champion.
  • 2015 MWC Women’s Indoor 5000M Runner-Up.
  • 2015 MWC Women’s 10000M Runner-Up.
  • 2014 & 15 MWC Women’s 3000M Steeplechase Runner-Up.
  • 2014 MWC Women’s Indoor 5000M Champion & Runner-Up.
  • 2015 MWC Outdoor Men’s 800M Champion.
  • 2014 MWC Men’s 3000M Steeplechase Champion.
  • 2014 MWC Men’s Indoor and Outdoor 800M Runner-Up.
  • 15 NCAA West Preliminary Qualifiers in 2015.
  • 15 NCAA West Preliminary Qualifiers in 2014.
  • 11 NCAA West Preliminary Qualifiers in 2013.
CROSS COUNTRY
  • Three NCAA Championships individual qualifiers.
  • 2014 women’s team finished 3rd in Mountain West.
  • Recruited and coached the Men’s 2013 MWC Cross Country Freshman of the Year.
  • Four women’s All- Conference and All-Region performances.
  • One men’s All-Conference and All-Region performance.
  • Men’s team ranked 40th nationally in 2013.
HELPING THE RAMS RUN

TRACK & FIELD
  • Two women’s 3000M Steeplechase All-Americans.
  • School-records in 3000M Steeple, Indoor 3000M, Outdoor 5,000M and 10,000M.
  • Two women’s 3000M Steeplechase and one 10,000M MWC Champion.
  • Men’s 800M and 3000M Steeplechase MWC Champions.
CROSS COUNTRY
  • Three individual NCAA cross country championship qualifiers.
  • Women’s cross country team earned four Runner-Up finishes in the MWC.
  • Four men’s cross country athletes earned All-Conference and All-Region.
  • Men’s 800M and 3000M Steeplechase MWC Champions.
RECRUITING SUCCESS

WYOMING
  • Signed the 2014 US #1 Boys 800M Runner - Ricky Faure (1:48.1).
  • Signed the 2014 US #26 Boys 800M Runner - Bryce Ailshie (1:52.4).
  • Signed the 2011 World Youth 110H Champion - Andries van der Merwe (13.34).
  • Signed 800M runner Kerry White (2:08.1).
  • Signed 800M runners Harry Fisher (1:48.7) and Thomas Atkinson (1:50.6).
  • Signed Two high school state Gatorade Boys Cross Country Runners of the Year
  • Signed One Nike Cross National individual qualifier.
  • Signed 11 girls with high school cross country 5000M PRs from 16:30 to 18:24.
  • Signed a total of 50 student-athletes to NLI’s.
COLORADO STATE
  • Signed the 2010-11 Gatorade Kansas Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.
  • Signed the 2010-11 Gatorade South Dakota Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.
  • Signed 6 total Mid-Long Distance athletes to NLI's in 2012.
ATHLETIC CAREER
  • Member of the 2001 Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field MidContinent Conference Championship teams (Oral Roberts University),
  • Most Valuable Male Cross Country Athlete at Mount Marty College in 2003,
  • 2X Individual NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Qualifier.
  • Member of the 2003 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship team (Fort Hays State University).
  • Semi-professional runner from 2008-2011.
THE STEPHENS FILE
  • Stephens graduated from Mount Marty College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in recreation management and went on to earn a master’s degree in sports administration from Fort Hays State University in 2004.
  • Stephens originally hails from Condon, Oregon.
  • Stephens is married to his wife, Holly.
JOE STEPHENS COACHING TIMELINE
  • 2003 – Yankton High School (Assistant Cross Country)
  • 2003-2004 – Fort Hays State University (Graduate Assistant/Long Distance)
  • 2005-2007 – Black Hills State University (Assistant Track & Field and Cross country)
  • 2008-2012 – Colorado State University (Assistant Track & Field and Cross Country)
  • 2012-2015 – University of Wyoming (Long Distance Coach & Recruiting Coordinator)
  • 2015-2022 – Bethel University (Head Cross Country & Assistant Track and Field)
  • 2022-pres. – South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (Director of Track & Field and Cross Country)