Cross-Country Program Returns to Central Christian College of Kansas

McPherson, KS – February 27, 2024 – Central Christian College of Kansas (CCCK) announced today it is re-launching its men’s and women’s cross-country program after a several-year hiatus. Leading this program will be Chad Clevenger, an experienced coach at both the Junior College and Collegiate levels.

Clevenger, a native of Ida, Michigan, spent the past three seasons at McPherson College as the Head Cross-Country and Assistant Track and Field Coach. During his tenure with the Bulldogs, Clevenger coached over athletes to 10 school records, including the women’s cross-country record holder. His teams ranked in the top 20 nationally in team GPA in 2021, 2022, and 2023 and were selected as the KCAC Cross-Country Teams of Character in 2022. This past season, he had both a male and a female runner qualify for the NAIA national championships, a first for the school since 2015.

Previously, Coach Clevenger spent 11 seasons at Highland Community College in Highland, Kansas coaching their cross-country and track and field programs. He began in 2010 as the head men’s cross-country/track and field coach. In 2016, Highland consolidated the men’s and women’s programs and promoted Clevenger to head men’s and women’s cross-country and track and field coach.

During his time with the Scotties, Coach Clevenger worked with some outstanding talent, coaching 252 NJCAA national qualifiers, including Coshan Campbell, who was the 2019 NJCAA national champion, 219 All-Conference runners, and 52 All-Americans while his runners set 56 new school records. His teams did exceptional work in the classroom as well being named NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year 11 times with 83 of his runners named NJCAA Academic All-Americans.

“I am excited to get this program re-started and don the Central blue and gold,” said Clevenger. “Just stepping on this campus, you can feel how special of a place we have at Central Christian.”

He added, “I want to thank Kyle Moody and President Favara for this opportunity along with the other great people I have had the privilege to meet and get to know at Central. I look forward to help lead our students through the Central Core 4 of Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength.”

AD Moody commented, “We are excited to be able to bring our Cross-Country programs back and we are thrilled to have Coach Clevenger come on board and give the programs a reboot. He has had success at each of his other stops, and we believe that he will do the same at Central!”

Coach Clevenger and his family currently reside in McPherson. His wife Gina currently works for the USD 418 school district.

Coach Clevenger officially begins his duties as the head coach of the Tiger Cross-Country teams March 1st, restarting programs that were last officially on the books at CCCK in the fall of 2019.

About Central Christian College of Kansas

Founded in 1884 as Orleans Seminary, Central Christian College of Kansas is a four-year, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Free Methodist Church of North America. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offering undergraduate studies in over 40 areas including a graduate program both online and in-person, Central Christian College aspires to provide a transformative educational experience rooted in Christ, to any person desiring to become a faithful steward of heart, mind, soul, and strength. For more information about programs of study and admissions requirements contact Admissions at (620) 241-0723 or email admissions@centralchristian.edu.

About Tiger athletics

Central Christian College of Kansas is a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC), the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). It offers athletic opportunities for men and women in nine sports. For more information about Tiger athletics, contact the Sports Information Director at (620) 241-0723 or email sid@centralchristian.edu.