Haveman Returns as Fighting Illini Head Coach for Men's and Women's Cross Country
August 9, 2022 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field, Men's Track & Field
NEWS
CHAMPAIGN, ILL - Sarah Haveman, coach of the Illinois distance runners since 2017 and head coach of the men's and women's cross country program since 2020, will return in the same capacity on the coaching staff being assembled by new director of track and field and cross country Petros Kyprianou, Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced on Tuesday. In addition, Whitman announced that Haveman's contract, currently set to expire in August 2023, would be extended, with her new contract subject to approval by the Board of Trustees at its September meeting.
"We are incredibly grateful to Sarah for her dedication and loyalty to our program and our student-athletes," Whitman said. "She has been a dynamic member of our head coaching staff, and her competitive, student-centered approach is much appreciated. I am excited for her collaboration with Petros and look forward to her building on the momentum she has created in our distance programs in the years ahead."
Haveman has been a member of the cross-country coaching staff since the 2017 season. In her first year as head coach of the program, she guided the women's team to a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Midwest Regional, the best since 2009. In 2019 she led the women's team to win the Midwest Regional Title for the second time in school history, and the first since 2006. This accomplishment qualified them for the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2009 where the team placed 22nd.
Haveman also coaches distance runners during the track and field season, most notably All-American Jon Davis. She coached him to a sub-four-minute mile (3:58.06) in 2019, the fastest mile in program history. Davis is one of the most decorated runners to come through the Illini program. The five-time All-American owns two school records; the indoor mile (3:58.06) and the 3000m (7:49.92) and is the 498th American to run a sub-four-minute mile. He was the 2018 Illinois freshman of the year and the UTSFCCCA Midwest Region Indoor Athlete of the Year. Most recently, this past summer, he placed second in the 1500m at the 2022 USA Track and Field Outdoor Championship.
Also, in 2019, she coached the distance medley relay (DMR) team of Joe Haight, Denis O'Callaghan, Jesse Reiser and Davis to All-America honors. This team recorded the fastest DMR time in school history (9:29.19) at the Alex Wilson Invitational.
"Sarah will be a great asset to our current and future teams as I felt that her retention is vital to moving forward, especially in our first year in restructuring staff and roster," Kyprianou said. "She is a competitive coach with invaluable experience in both distances and cross country that matches our culture and help build a team that will challenge championships as we move forward. Speaking to Sarah, I felt that our minds are in sync and her energy is set to be spread in this new Illini era in track and cross country. I can't wait to support and help her lead both our men and women cross country crews in the upcoming fall."
Another notable product of Haveman's coaching is Olivia Howell. Howell is a two-time All-American and reigning two-time University of Illinois Female Athlete of the Year. She won the mile at the 2022 Big Ten Indoor Championships and the 1500m at the 2022 Big Ten Outdoor Championships. She also owns the school record for the indoor 1000m (2:46.52), indoor mile (4:33.75) and the outdoor 1500m (4:09.71).
"The University of Illinois student-athletes are incredibly important to me," said Haveman. "I am grateful to continue to guide them in this new and exciting era. I look forward to working with Coach Kyprianou in building a championship program that current, future, and past Illini can be proud of."
Details of Haveman's contract extension are being finalized. The extension is subject to approval by the UI Board of Trustees at its next meeting.
