James Akita

James Akita

 

James Akita

First full year at Lake Forest and 15th as a head coach at the collegiate level

Was the head men’s cross country and track and field coach at Elmhurst College for 14 years rom 2005 to 2019

Coached Bluejay runners to more than 100 All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin honors and individual athletes earned All-American accolades in both sports

Served as interim head coach for Elmhurst College’s women’s cross country and track and field programs on two different occasions

Began coaching career as a graduate assistant at Rockford College 

Graduated from Elmhurst College in 2004 after a four-year career that included eight all-conference honors, five school records, and a pair of appearances at the NCAA Championship Meet
 

James Akita was named the head coach of the Forester cross country an track programs in February of 2020.

Akita was the head men's cross country and track and field coach at Elmhurst College, his alma mater, from 2005 to 2019. Under his direction, Elmhurst athletes earned more than 100 All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin honors in the two sports combined. Individual Bluejays also achieved All-American status multiple times in both sports. Akita's programs were also successful academically, ranking among the top 25 in the nation in grade point average 10 times.

He also served as the interim head women's cross country and track coach on two different occasions during his time at Elmhurst and was also the school's intramural director for nine years. 

Prior to joining the Elmhurst coaching staff, Akita served as a graduate assistant coach at Rockford College and earned his master's degree in teaching from Rockford in 2005. He also served as an assistant coach at Elmhurst during the 2002 cross country season.

A 2004 graduate of Elmhurst, Akita had a stand-out career as a member of both the cross country and track and field teams. He was a two-year team captain in both sports and earned eight all-conference honors during his career. Akita set five school records, captured a conference title in the 5,000 meter run in 2001, and qualified for a pair of NCAA Championship Meets in track and field. He was also a Jack Swartz Academic All-Conference selection.

Akita grew up in Elmhurst and attended York High School. He now resides in Lombard, Illinois.