Former Drake standout Jon DeGrave is in his second season as an assistant coach with the Loyola University Chicago track & field team. DeGrave, a native of suburban Lake Villa, Ill., works with the Rambler sprints, hurdles and combined events athletes on both the men's and women's sides.
"I am very pleased to announce the addition of Jon DeGrave to our staff," Loyola head track & field and cross country coach Bob Thurnhoffer said. "He's a young guy with great expertise in the hurdles and sprints. He's coached at various levels and a great student of the sport. Jon brings a great athletic pedigree as well. He was a three MVC champion in the 400m hurdles, and an NCAA qualifier in that event in 2011."
DeGrave spent the past two years as a graduate assistant coach at North Park University in Chicago. During his time with the Vikings, he helped lead Elina Gunnarson to the appearances in both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He also played a primary role in the development of Rasmus Elfgaard, who placed sixth overall in the heptathlon at the national indoor meet.
Prior to arriving in Chicago, DeGrave was a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater for two seasons. In his two-year stint in Des Moines, Iowa, the Bulldogs took captured Missouri Valley Conference titles in the high jump, 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay.
DeGrave was a three-time Valley champion (2010, 2011, 2012) in the 400m hurdles during his collegiate career at Drake and qualified for the NCAA Regionals in each of those seasons. His top performance came in 2011 when he advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and earned a 20th-place finish. He also experienced success during his indoor career, taking home the league title in the 400m dash in 2011 to go along with a runner-up finish in event the following year.
DeGrave, who lives in Chicago, holds level 1 certification from the USA Track & Field.
