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Kyle Basista Departing John Carroll XC/TF Program for Yale University

| By: JCUSID
Kyle Basista will lead Yale's men's cross country program and aid the Bulldogs' track & field program following a successful decade as JCU's head coach. 
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Following a fantastic 15 seasons at John Carroll, Kyle Basista is moving up in the coaching world.

Basista will be moving onwards and upwards in the profession, heading to Yale University to serve as the Bulldogs' head men's cross country coach and assistant men's track & field coach.

Over the past 10 years as head coach, Basista has built a program that has competed on a national level, consistently achieving impressive results. 

"We are very grateful to Kyle for the contributions that he has made to our cross country and track & field programs over the last decade and a half," said Vice President for Athletics and National Engagement Brian Polian '97. "Kyle has been a great coach and mentor for the student-athletes, and guided our program to plenty of success. We are excited for him to get this opportunity at the Division I level and wish him nothing but the best."

Basista's achievements during his tenure as head coach were quite impressive. On the national stage, the Blue Streaks achieved program-best finishes at the NCAA Division III Championships in cross country (4th, 2021 and 2022), indoor track & field (5th, 2024), and outdoor track & field (2nd, 2022). Eight individual national championships occurred under Basista's watch. 

At the conference level, Basista's teams consistently finished in the top three, and often claimed hardware. The veteran coach guided JCU to the program's first OAC women's outdoor title in 2019 and first OAC women's indoor trophy in 2021. The Blue Streaks tallied the program's first OAC women's cross country crown in 2019 and first OAC men's cross country title in 2021. Overall, Basista's squads notched 9 OAC Championships. 

Basista's staffs won 12 OAC Coaching Staff of the Year awards (5 for Women's Cross Country, 3 for Men's Cross Country, and one apiece for for Men's Indoor Track & Field, Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's Outdoor Track & Field, and Women's Outdoor Track & Field.

For track & field, under Basista's guidance, the Blue Streaks racked up 317 All-OAC honorees, 247 All-Region accolades, 131 Academic All-Americans, 128 Academic All-OAC recipients, and over 100 All-American medals. Twice, Basista was named the Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year (Men's Outdoor Track & Field in 2021 and Women's Outdoor Track & Field in 2019). 

For cross country, under Basista's leadership, the Blue Streaks notched 93 All-OAC honorees, 100+ Academic All-OAC recipients, 57 All-Region accolades, 11 NCAA Division III Championships individual qualifiers, 7 OAC Freshman of the Year, 6 NCAA Division III Freshmen of the Year, and 6 All-Americans. 

And before starting as head coach in June 2014, Basista worked as a graduate assistant (2009-2011) and then as the top assistant (2011-14) at JCU. Prior to arriving at JCU in the fall of 2009, Basista was the assistant cross country and track & field coach at the University of Mount Union (2008-09). A 2008 graduate of the University of Mount Union, Basista was a two-time Division III All-American and five-time OAC Champion as an athlete himself. 

Over the past decade and a half, Basista has become a true Man of Carroll.

"John Carroll is a special place. It's been my home for the last 15 years, over a third of my life. My time here has been truly transformative and a labor of love," said Basista. "I feel fortunate and blessed to have met some amazing individuals in my time at JCU. For me, it has and will always be about the people and relationships. I will be forever indebted to so many individuals who impacted me and the program over the years, but none more than the student-athletes. Cura personalis (care of the whole person) has always resonated with me and of course embodied in the Jesuit tradition. That's what we built the program upon and were fortunate to get some positive results along the way. I can't thank our student-athletes enough and although this next chapter in JCU XC/T&F will look different, it's in good hands and the future has never been brighter. I am officially now the biggest cheerleader and supporter. JCU will always be a place I can call home. Thank You Blue Streak Nation!"

The search for a new leader of the program is currently underway. 
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