Lake Forest College Vice President for Athletics Jackie Slaats and Director of Athletics Blake Theisen announced this past week that Jim Akita will be the Foresters' new head cross country and track coach. He will officially join the coaching staff on Monday.
Akita was the head men's cross country and track and field coach at Elmhurst College, his alma mater, from 2005 to 2019. He also served as the interim head women's cross country and track coach on two different occasions during his time at the institution. 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.
Prior to joining the Elmhurst coaching staff, Akita served as a graduate assistant coach at Rockford College. 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.
"We are excited for Coach Akita to join our staff," commented Theisen. "He is an experienced head coach at the NCAA Division III level and in the Chicago area, qualities that will serve him well in this position. We look forward to our programs reaching new levels of success under his guidance."
"I would like to thank Director of Atheltics Blake Theisen and Vice President for Career Advancement and Athletics Jackie Slaats for this amazing opportunity," began Akita. "Their enthusiasm and excitement for the growth of the cross country and track teams was apparent through all of our conversations. I am extremely excited to continue to build these programs and create new traditions for years to come."