RENO, Nev. – Nevada Cross Country Head Coach and Track & Field assistant coach Kirk Elias on Tuesday announced his retirement following the 2024-25 athletic season.

This fall marks Elias' 20th campaign guiding Wolf Pack Cross Country, and his sixth at the men's helm since that program was reinstated in 2019. This spring will mark his 21st season overseeing Nevada's distance runners on the track.

"As one of our longest-tenured head coaches, Kirk Elias' retirement certainly marks the end of an era. Kirk's passion and advocacy for Nevada, his teams, and for distance running, including taking on the role of men's head coach with the reinstatement of the program, have embodied the 'Wolf Pack Way' and set Nevada Cross Country up for future success. We are grateful for his service to the University and wish him the best in retirement," said Nevada Athletic Director Stephanie Rempe.

Elias has coached 18 all-conference honorees in cross country, and on the track, his distance runners have tallied 14 individual track & field event titles (six indoor, eight outdoor).

He oversaw the performance of Emily Myers in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2017 NCAA Championships, which earned her a second-team All-America honor.

As a freshman in 2008, Amanda Moreno was named the Outstanding Track Performer of the WAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships and WAC Freshman of the Year—then a year later went on to be named 2009 Outstanding Track Performer of the WAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships after sweeping the 5,000- and 10,000-meter events.

"Coach Kirk Elias' record speaks for itself. For two decades, he has brought a personal, humanistic sense of helping student-athletes to succeed in life, the classroom and athletics. The best college distance running coaches are coaches to their athletes for life – and this is perhaps Kirk's greatest gift to his runners and to our University. On behalf of the entire University, I wish to thank him for representing the very best of The Wolf Pack Way throughout his historic tenure," said University President Brian Sandoval.

His distance corps has routinely turned in impressive performances at conference championship meets. Caitlin Devitt-Payne and Samantha Diaz handled distance duties as part of Nevada's Mountain West-champion DMR team in 2014, capturing the Pack's first Mountain West event title in indoor track & field.

Wolf Pack distance runners captured the 1,500-meter WAC outdoor title three-straight years from 2009-11, beginning with Christa Avena's title and closing with Diaz going back-to-back. The 2009 WAC outdoor meet also featured the incredible achievement of Nevada sweeping the 1,500-meter (Avena), 3,000-meter steeplechase (Avena), 5,000-meter (Moreno), and 10,000-meter (Moreno) events.

Since joining the Mountain West, Wolf Pack distance runners have earned 10 podium finishes (six indoor, four outdoor) at the conference championship meets.

Statement from Kirk Elias:

I will be retiring June 30, 2025. That will mark 51 years of coaching, 40 at the Division I level, with the last 21 at Nevada.

It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as Nevada's Head Cross Country and Assistant Track and Field Coach. I want to thank Cary Groth, Doug Knuth, and Stephanie Rempe for allowing to me to serve in their athletic department. Notably, the past four years have been so much brighter with the leadership of President Brian Sandoval.

Many thanks to Shantel Twiggs, Director of Track and Field and Cross Country. It has been a real treat going into battle with you. I look forward to a few more. I expect you will continue to lead the Wolf Pack to new heights in the years to come.

Perhaps most importantly, I wish to thank the hundreds of athletes that I have been honored to work with since 1974. Each of you added to my life. Your energy, enthusiasm, motivation, intelligence and talent has made coaching a joy for half a century. You challenged me and made my life special.  I hope I was able to be a small addition in yours. Think Great! Act Great! Be Great!

I also wish to mention four invaluable mentors from early in my career, Rick Kleyman (Armstrong High School, Plymouth, Minnesota), who helped me generate a philosophy, Roy Griak (Head Men's Coach, University of Minnesota), who opened a collegiate door, Loren Seagrave (too many stops to give appropriate credit) who showed what was possible, and Gary Wilson (Head Women's Coach, University of Minnesota), a colleague who remains as one of my best friends, who challenged me constantly. They each played a significant role in helping me find my footing in coaching.

A huge shout out to my wife and partner in life, Nadine "Bean" Elias. I lean on you when navigating the roughest of waters. Thanks for your counsel and love.

Finally, special thanks to my parents, siblings and friends who helped support this quixotic journey through life. It would not have been possible without you.

I am excited for this last year of collegiate coaching. There is much to accomplish with two cross country teams who are ready to blossom into major surprises in the Mountain West this season. I look forward to my role in having Nevada host a memorable NCAA Mountain Regional Cross Country Championship. And as our track and field season gets underway, it will be a real kick to host indoor meets on the new facility so graciously provided to us by the RSCVA.

Thanks to all for the opportunity. Go Pack!!!

Kirk Elias