Trailblazers Tap Veteran Coach to Elevate Track and Field

Vincennes University (VU) Director of Athletics John Meeks announced Wednesday that Michael Mangan has been named the next Head Coach of the Trailblazers Men's and Women's Track and Field programs. Mangan joins VU with over three decades of coaching experience, ranging from nationally recognized prep programs to college-level leadership.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome Coach Michael Mangan, his wife Rebecca, and children Abigail and Joseph to the Trailblazer family," said VU Director of Athletics John Meeks. "He brings a winning pedigree, a commitment to student-athlete development, and a national reputation as an elite coach. His vision and energy are exactly what we need to take our Track and Field programs to the next level. As we began our search, we were looking for a leader who could elevate the competitive profile of our program, mentor our student-athletes with passion and purpose, and represent the values of VU with integrity and pride. We found all of that—and more—in Coach Mangan. Beyond his coaching credentials, he is a powerful role model, demonstrating what is possible through hard work and leadership. His ability to connect with young people and guide them both on and off the track makes him an ideal fit for our mission."

Mangan joins Vincennes University from NAIA member Webber International University, where he served as Head Cross Country Coach beginning in 2021 and was promoted to lead the Track and Field program in 2022. During his tenure, he implemented a performance-driven training model that emphasized long-term athlete development and technical refinement. His leadership helped Webber establish consistency in conference standings, improve recruiting, and strengthen team cohesion. His student-athletes not only grew as competitors but also as students and leaders. In 2025, javelin standout Jacob Wells was named the Sun Conference Men's Champion of Character, an award honoring student-athletes who exemplify integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. Mangan departs Webber following the university's decision to discontinue its Cross Country and Track and Field programs.

"From the minute I stepped foot on campus, Vincennes felt like the right fit—not just as a place, but as a community," said Mangan. "There's a strong tradition here, and I'm excited to build on that with the Track & Field and Cross Country teams. The student-athletes, coaching staff, and leadership at Vincennes have already made me feel welcome and energized about the journey ahead. I'm honored to be part of a program with such history and potential, and proud to have the opportunity to be a Trailblazer."

Prior to his move to the collegiate level, Mangan was a powerhouse presence in Virginia high school athletics. From 2000 to 2021, he served as the Head Boy's and Girl's Cross Country Coach and Director of Track and Field at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, VA. Over those 21 years, his teams won 11 Virginia Large Schools State Cross Country Championships and produced dozens of state champions and national qualifiers, including multiple appearances at Nike Cross Nationals, Foot Locker Nationals, and New Balance Nationals. He was a four-time Washington Post All‑Met Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Lake Braddock Hall of Fame in 2022.

Mangan's national recognition includes being named NSAF National Coach of the Year in 2017 and Virginia State Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2014. His 2016 girls squad captured the Penn Relays Distance Medley Relay Championship, and in 2017 his team set a U.S. national high school indoor record while winning the New Balance National Indoor Distance Medley title. Additionally, he coached standout athlete Kate Murphy to the 1500-meter semifinals at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials—while she was still a high school junior.

Before Lake Braddock, Mangan spent over a decade at Langley High School in McLean, VA, serving as an Assistant and eventually Head Coach for Boy's and Girl's Cross Country and Track and Field from 1987 to 2000. He also led girls' programs at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School in Alexandria during that span.

Mangan earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from George Mason University and an Associate in Arts from Northern Virginia Community College. In addition to his academic credentials, he holds a USATF Level 1 Coaching Certification and most recently served as the Men's and Women's Cross Country Chair for the Sun Conference. Mangan and his wife, Rebecca, have two children: Abigail, a recent graduate of Webber International University, and Joseph, a high school sophomore and enthusiastic baseball player.

Additionally, it was announced that Interim Track and Field/Cross Country Head Coach Tyler Steigenga would step into the role of full-time Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach for the 2025 season.

"I want to thank Coach Tyler Steigenga for providing steady leadership for both our Track and Field and Cross Country programs over the past year," said Meeks. "His dedication to our student-athletes helped guide us through a critical period of transition. We're excited that he will now return to a role that plays to his greatest strengths—leading our Cross Country program—while continuing to offer his breadth of knowledge, as well as valuable support and leadership, to Track and Field alongside Coach Mangan. His knowledge, passion, and commitment to VU Athletics are truly appreciated."

VU's Track and Field program has a long and distinguished history of national success and individual excellence. The program has produced over 300 NJCAA All-Americans, with athletes regularly qualifying for national finals in the jumps, sprints, throws, and distance events. VU has also celebrated more than 30 individual national champions, and several former Trailblazers have transferred to top NCAA Division I and II programs or gone on to compete at the professional and international levels. With its rich legacy of achievement, VU Track and Field continues to stand among the premier programs in the two-year college athletics landscape.

What They're Saying

"I have known Coach Mangan for over 25 years and watched him coach at the highest level across all the event groups. He has been successful, not only with athletic performances on the track and field, but also as with his sportsmanship and development of athletes outside of the sport." - Alan Webb, Head Track and Field/Cross Country Coach, Ave Maria University

"For over 20 years, the Lake Braddock Cross Country and Track programs were beyond lucky to have Coach Mangan. When I hired him in 2000, I had no idea the bond that would be created between us. Not only is Coach Mangan an incredible coach, but he's also a more incredible person. Any coach can know the 'x's and o's' of their sport, but Coach Mangan has mastered the 'art' of coaching … create a family and there's nothing the athletes won't do for their team and their coach. Best hire I ever made!" - Bob Digby, Director of Track & Field, Lake Braddock Secondary School

"Having known Coach Mangan for over twenty years, I congratulate Vincennes for choosing a great coach and an even better person to lead their team. Mike's enthusiasm for, and technical knowledge of, Cross Country and Track & Field are going to be a great value for the student-athletes at Vincennes. Mike, Becky, my niece Abby, and my nephew Joey will be a wonderful addition to the Vincennes community and I'm excited for their next steps!" - Brian Cunningham, Head Cross Country Coach, Troy University

"Coach Mangan brought out the best in me—not just as an athlete, but as a person. He knew how to motivate, challenge, and support his athletes in a way that made us believe in our potential. His passion and leadership made a lasting impact on my career and our whole team. I'm excited to see him thrive and bring that same energy and excellence to Vincennes University." - Katy Presley, US National 3k Steeple Chase Finalist/NCAA All American, University of Kentucky