St. Ambrose University Director of Athletics Mike Holmes announced today Tyler Mulder has been named the University's head men's and women's track & field coach. He replaces Dan Tomlin, who left St. Ambrose to pursue opportunities outside coaching, and will begin his duties Oct. 6.

Mulder was entering his fifth year as the head coach of the track & field and cross country teams at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa. He coached seven cross country All-Americans and 59 track & field All-Americans, including an indoor men's national championship 4x800m relay team, at Hawkeye. Mutiple RedTail athletes moved to NCAA and NAIA programs under his watch.

"I'm grateful and thankful for the opportunity to become the next head coach for St. Ambrose University!" Mulder said. "I'm excited to meet the staff and get to know them. I'm eager to get to know the athletes and help push them to achieve their goals, while also helping set them up for life after college to be successful for the next steps in life.

"A big thank you to our AD Mike Holmes and the whole SAU family for trusting me to lead this team. I look forward to continue to grow the progress that has been already established and pursue new heights for the program. To hit some of the goals, we'll make sure we build and develop, while also recruiting high-caliber athletes who will fit the culture that we aim to build."

Originally from Orange City, Iowa, Mulder graduated from Unity Christian High School and the University of Northern Iowa. At UNI from 2005-09, he was an eight-time All-American and won the 800-meter national title at the 2008 NCAA Indoor National Championships. He holds Panther school records in the 800m, 1000m, 4x400m relay, sprint medley relay and distance medley relay. A 16-time Missouri Valley Conference champion, Mulder was named the conference's Most Outstanding Track Athlete at the 2008 and 2009 MVC Indoor Championships.

Following his collegiate career, Mulder joined the Oregon Track Club. He reached the 800m final at the 2009 USA Track & Field Championships. In 2010, he placed third at the USA Indoors and fourth at the USA Outdoors. In 2011, Mulder placed fourth at the USA Championships and just missed at qualifying for the World Championships. He took fourth-place honors at the 2011 Pan Am Games. Mulder placed fifth at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2012. He set his personal best in the 800 with a time of 1:44.34 in Monaco in 2013.

"Tyler comes with some instant credibility in both his past track achievements and his current strength of program at Hawkeye Community College," Holmes said. "We were delighted to have a strong pool of candidates, which further compliments Tyler in his ability to distinguish himself among that field."

Mulder will also serve as an assistant coach with the Fighting Bee cross country program.