Iona University Athletics

Chris Sauer joined the Iona University cross country and track & field staff after spending four years as the head cross country and distance coach at Long Island University in Brookville, N.Y.
 
His time at LIU saw dramatic improvements for both the men’s and women’s programs including 28 school records, 13 conference champions, two NCAA Regional Qualifiers and over 100 top 10 program marks for the Sharks.
 
In 2021, Sauer was named the NEC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year after his women improved from 10th to second as a team in just two years. That team included LIU’s first two NCAA Regional qualifiers in the distance events with Kelly Iocca and Ainhoa Brea both advancing in the steeplechase in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
 
On the men’s side, the distance events went from averaging five points per year at the NEC Championship to averaging 55 during his four years with the program. This was bolstered by eight individual conference champions and multiple Rookie of the Year awards.
 
Prior to LIU, Sauer spent three years as the head cross country and distance coach at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. There he coached three school records and was part of two runner-up conference titles.
 
Sauer received his Bachelor of Science at Stony Brook University where he majored in Biology with a concentration in Neurobiology and Physiology. He completed his master’s degree at Northwestern State University in Sport Administration. He competed in cross country and track at Stony Brook University and was part of the Seawolves first ever America East Conference title in 2012.