Eli Kaczinski was named the 14th head coach in Covenant cross country history, and the second in track and field history, in August 2022.
XC Conference Meet Results
2022: Men 3rd, Women 3rd
2023: Men 2nd, Women 2nd
2024: Men 1st, Women 2nd
In the 2024 season, Kaczinski led Covenant to its first CCS Championship in school history. Josiah Mellott, Daniel Bowles, and Ethan Saiki led the charge for the Scots, each finishing inside the top-six. After the meet, Kaczinski was named CCS Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year. The women's team also had a strong performance, finishing second for the second year in a row.
Twice under Kaczinski's leadership, Covenant has had a runner named CCS Rookie of the Year (Daniel Bowles 2022, Ethan Saiki 2023).
Track Conference Meet Results
2023: Men 5th, Women 4th
2024: Men 5th, Women 4th
2025: Men 6th, Women 2nd
During Kaczinski's three years as the head man in charge, Covenant has won 12 individual Conference Championships. His team's have earned 60 All-CCS accolades. Two of his most decorated student-athletes have been Emma Christensen and Josiah Mellott. Both of which have won multiple CCS Championships.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to accept this position at Covenant College," said Kaczinski. "I feel blessed to be able to step into an established program like the Scots, and to continue the legacy that [previous head coach] Katie Stanford built. I would like to thank my wife, Yvonne, for being so supportive of my dreams and sharing in my excitement. I’d also like to thank my parents, Coach Chapman, Coach Spitzer, Coach Grime, and Coach Anderson and Coach Johnson, as well as my church family back in Greenwood, S.C.”
"It became apparent during our initial conversations that he has a true heart for discipleship, a love and appreciation for the NCAA Division III philosophy, and a passion using cross country/track and field as a means of mentoring young men and women and aiding them in their walk with Christ," said Hirte. "I'm excited to see what is in store for these programs under his leadership."
Kaczinski spent the spring of 2022 as an assistant cross country/track coach at Erskine where he worked with middle distance and distance runners. He also has college coaching experience at Heidelberg and at Wartburg.
Over his coaching career, Kaczinski has produced two NCAA Division III national qualifiers and four All-Region honorees.
“I’m very thankful for how welcoming the Covenant family has made Yvonne and me feel from the start," added Kaczinski. "It’s certainly made this transition easier knowing we’re stepping into an incredible community on the mountain."
An All-American cross country runner at Wartburg, Kaczinski earned a degree in fitness management and business in 2018. He was a three-time national qualifier in cross country at Wartburg and earned a national championship appearance once in track. He was a three-time conference champion in track and helped Wartburg to a pair of conference titles.
Kaczinski also holds a master's degree in education from Heidelberg.
He takes over the Covenant programs as it enters the newly-formed Collegiate Conference of the South.
“My number one goal for the men’s and women’s teams this year is to grow their faith in Jesus Christ," said Kaczinski. "I’m looking forward to discipling and mentoring each of them in their spiritual walk. Athletically, we are a younger team with almost half of our roster being freshman. However, I believe we have the right leadership and talent to really come together and make some noise by the end of the season. The future looks bright, and I’m eager to continue our rich tradition by competing at a very high level.”
