NEWS: Gonzaga Head Coach Pat Tyson to Retire After June 2027, Coach Jake Stewart Named Future Director of Cross Country and Track & Field

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Written by Aimee Morganti, edits & additional commentary via Garrett Zatlin

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Pat Tyson, Gonzaga’s Director of Cross Country and Track & Field, is set to retire at the conclusion of the 2027 outdoor track and field season after 19 years with the program. Tyson’s leadership led to program records falling across every single distance spanning cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. He specifically oversaw the men’s team.

On his upcoming retirement, Tyson explained...

“After 19 incredible years with our Zag runners, I’ve decided that next season will be my “victory lap” before passing the baton to the next leader of this special program. Gonzaga has been an amazing place to coach, and I’m deeply grateful for the athletes, alumni, colleagues, and friends who have made these years so meaningful. Being part of this program and the lives of so many student-athletes has truly been the honor of a lifetime.”

During his time with the Bulldogs, Tyson’s guidance has produced multiple All-American accolades among top individuals such as James Mwaura (10k and cross country) and Troy Fraley (3000-meter steeplechase). It should also be noted that Wil Smith and Mwaura both qualified for the 2024 Olympic Trials over 10,000 meters.

But maybe more impressive is the fact that Gonzaga’s cross country teams (men and women) finished in the top-28 at the NCAA XC Championships on five occasions across the 2020 to 2024 seasons. Tyson’s best finish was at the 2022 NCAA XC Championships where his men’s team earned 13th place in the nation.

At the conference level, Tyson led his men’s team to gold for the first time ever at the West Coast Conference XC Championships in 2023.

As a result of Tyson's upcoming retirement, Coach Jake Stewart has been named as the new Director of Cross Country and Track & Field for the Gonzaga programs. He is set to be elevated from his current position as the head coach of women’s cross country and track and field to the role in July 2027.

Stewart has grown Gonzaga's distance program under Tyson’s guidance for the past eight years, guiding his athletes to two All-American accolades and 10 national meet qualifications.

Incoming Director Jake Stewart stated,

“My family and I are incredibly grateful to Chris Standiford and Shannon Strahl for the opportunity to lead Gonzaga’s combined cross country and track and field program beginning in July 2027. I also want to sincerely thank Pat Tyson for his support in bringing the programs together and for the remarkable foundation he has built throughout his career at Gonzaga as he prepares for retirement. We are excited to build on that legacy.”