Cross Country | 5/20/2021 10:00:00 AM

STORM LAKE, Iowa (May 19, 2021) – Buena Vista University Director of Athletics, Jack Denholm, has announced that Chris Orlow has been named Head Cross Country / Distance Coach for BVU.
 
Orlow, who joined the coaching staff as an Assistant Cross Country / Track & Field Coach in the fall of 2020, will now lead the cross country team and serve as the distance coach for the Beaver Track & Field team.
 
"I am excited for the opportunity to build a strong cross country program here at BVU," says Orlow. "I am confident that we have the athletes and the opportunities to create something special here."
 
Orlow has been instrumental during his nearly one year on campus in helping guide the women's cross country team to one of its best conference championship finishes in school history this past fall.  During both the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons, numerous school distance records were set and Orlow is looking forward to bringing a sense of consistency to the programs.
 
"I have formed many relationships with the athletes and coaches here at BVU," adds Orlow. "I am looking forward to developing the athletes we have and future athletes into strong independent men and women. The distance squad faced a lot of adversity last year and have improved greatly through that. I am looking forward to this upcoming Cross Country season and building upon our women's fifth place finish last year. We are looking to be in the middle of the pack this year on the men's side as well with everyone returning and adding a few new key pieces."
 
Orlow was a member of the Eastern Illinois Cross Country and Track & Field teams from 2014-19 where he was a First Team All-Conference selection in cross country in 2017 and graduated as the No. 8 ranked individual all-time in the 8k.
 
Orlow remained at EIU and served as a graduate assistant with the football team after having served multiple student assistant roles as an undergraduate. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing in May of 2018 and his Master of Science in Sports Administration in December of 2019.
 
"I'm excited to announce that Chris Orlow has been named as the Head Cross Country/Distance coach at BVU," says Denholm. "This is a new position that was approved by the University to help strengthen the Cross Country and Track & Field programs, while also helping with consistency regarding recruitment along with the retention of current student-athletes."