Rich Maleniak, the four-time USTFCCCA Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year, is in his fifth season leading the Spartan’s distance team, having joined the staff in 2017. After his first season at UD, he was named head cross country coach. Maleniak leads the Spartan middle distance and distance runners for the program.
Coaching Philosophy
"Focus on the development of the all-around runner, including endurance, speed, and getting stronger in the weight room. I want athletes who are engaged in what they're doing, learning what they're good at, what they need improvement at, and taping into their internal motivation to get better and not shy away from the hard stuff. My goal is to have athletes that my job is to hold them back from doing too much, rather than my need to push them. If we can get to that point, usually they'll reach their full potential as an athlete and they'll gain confidence that will carry over into all other aspects of their lives outside of running."
While at UD
Throughout Coach Maleniak’s tenure, 18 school records have been broken by athletes he’s coached indoors and outdoors. The Spartan men won the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Indoor Championships in 2018 with 18 points coming from distance runner Alec Bass who won the 3,000 meters and was runner-up in the 5,000 meters. He mentored Colfay Pointer to multiple NCAA Championships appearances, including All-American honors in 2019 where he ran 46.97 in the 400m final. Another school record was set in the 4x400m, as the team knocked over four seconds off the record set in 1961, en route to placing 10th at the NCAA Championships.
Before UD
Prior to UD, Maleniak, led the women’s middle distance and distance runners at the University of St. Thomas (UST) for six seasons. Throughout his tenure at UST, Maleniak helped runners gain conference, regional, and national success in cross country and track and field covering events from 600 to 10,000 meters. At UST, Maleniak coached 29 individuals and relays to MIAC titles and 57 all-conference finishes. On the national level, Maleniak coached athletes to 20 NCAA All-American performances in individual or relay events including back-to-back national titles in the distance medley relay (2015 & 2016) and a national championship in the indoor mile (2016). He has coached four USTFCCCA Regional Athlete-of-the-Year award winners. Maleniak wrote the training and led the UST women's cross country team to the NCAA Championships for three consecutive seasons (2014-2016). He also coached three individuals to All-American performances at the NCAA DIII Cross Country National Championships.
Before joining the St. Thomas staff in 2012, Maleniak spent the previous two seasons as a graduate assistant coach for the cross country and track and field teams at NCAA Division I Illinois State University (ISU). While at ISU, he was responsible for on and off campus recruiting and help implementing workouts for the distance runners.
Maleniak began his college coaching career at UW-Eau Claire as an assistant coach for the men's and women's track and field and cross country programs. Maleniak was in charge of developing workout plans for the 800-meter training group. He coached two NCAA All-Americans and his group set multiple school records. He assisted with the women's cross country team as it improved from placing 12th at the NCAA Championship meet in 2006, to 8th place in 2007, and 5th place in 2008.
Maleniak earned his bachelor’s degree from UW-Eau Claire in Chemistry with an emphasis in business in 2002, and earned a master’s degree in Sports Management from Illinois State University in 2011. As a competitor himself, he competed in five national championship competitions and was a 2-time NCAA Division III Track All-American. Maleniak also served as a team captain and was named MVP of the track team after his senior season, while setting the UW-Eau Claire school records in the indoor mile and outdoor 1500-meter run. He holds a U.S.A. Track and Field Level II certification in the Endurance events, and a USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning Certification.
Certificates
USATF Level I
USATF Level II – Endurance Events
USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning Certification
