Colorado University Athletics
Track and Field
Sean Carlson
- Title:
- Director of Cross Country and Track & Field
Sean Carlson was named Director of Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field at the University of Colorado on July 25, 2024. The 2025–26 campaign marks his second season leading the program.
Carlson came to Boulder after serving as the Director of Men’s and Women’s Cross Country at the University of Tennessee. Prior to his time in Knoxville, he spent more than a decade coaching at the University of Notre Dame, where he played a key role in developing the distance programs.
Sean Carlson guided the Buffs to multiple NCAA Indoor qualifiers. Avery Pearson set a program-record 1:59.98@ in the 800 meters, won the Big 12 600-yard title, and earned a Team Canada selection. The men’s distance medley relay of Kipkoech, Tragarz, Costelow, and Givens qualified with a school-record 9:19.00, the first DMR to reach the NCAA Championships since 1994, while Kipkoech and Givens also earned NCAA berths in the mile...The Buffs now turn their focus to the outdoor season.
2025 CROSS COUNTRY SEASON
In his second season leading the Colorado cross country program, Carlson guided the men’s and women’s teams to strong performances at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, with the men finishing 10th and extending their 33rd consecutive NCAA Championship streak, and the women placing 13th, their best result since 2022. The women’s season also included a third-place finish at the Gans Creek Invitational and a fourth-place finish at the Mountain Regional, reflecting the team’s rapid progress under Carlson.
2024–2025 TRACK SEASON
In his first season leading the Colorado on the track, Carlson guided the Buffs to multiple NCAA Championship appearances. During the indoor season, Isaiah Givens earned All-American honors by placing fifth in the mile and set a new Colorado school record. On the outdoor stage, Kole Mathison competed in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
2024 CROSS COUNTRY SEASON
In his first season leading the Colorado cross country program, Sean Carlson guided the men’s team to the NCAA Cross Country Championships and oversaw Jessie Secor’s qualification as an individual competitor, where she finished 107th in the 6k race. The men’s team finished 19th overall.
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
Before joining Colorado, Carlson spent two seasons at the University of Tennessee, where he revitalized the distance programs. He led the women’s team to a 6th-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2024, their first national appearance in nearly two decades. On the men’s side, Carlson guided the team to consecutive NCAA Championship appearances and helped develop standout athletes, including three-time NCAA champion Dylan Jacobs and All-American Yaseen Abdalla. His time in Knoxville was marked by program-building success and the development of nationally competitive distance runners.
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
Carlson began coaching at Notre Dame in 2011 as an assistant and became head coach of the men’s cross country program in 2016. Under his leadership, the team won the 2018 ACC Championship, earned a top-two national qualifying spot, and finished 14th at the NCAA Championships. Notre Dame continued its rise with a 9th-place NCAA finish in 2019 and runner-up in 2021, with six All-Americans. Carlson also developed standout athletes, including Yared Nuguse, now the American mile record holder and Tokyo Olympian, and Sam Voelz, who placed sixth at the Olympic Trials. He led the men’s DMR to one NCAA title and two runner-up finishes.
CAREER ONSET
Carlson's coaching career began at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, where he was a an All-American, conference champion and contributed to the Cardinals' NCAA Division III Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Championship titles. He then served as a cross country and track and field coach at Saint Charles North High before advancing to an assistant coaching position at Notre Dame. While at North Central, Carlson completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship and his Master’s degree in Leadership Studies.
COLLEGIATE COACHING HONORS
Carlson has received the following awards throughout his coaching career:
OTHER COACHING ACHIEVEMENTS
Carlson’s career is highlighted by coaching:
Carlson came to Boulder after serving as the Director of Men’s and Women’s Cross Country at the University of Tennessee. Prior to his time in Knoxville, he spent more than a decade coaching at the University of Notre Dame, where he played a key role in developing the distance programs.
He boasts an exceptional coaching record that includes multiple top-10 team finishes at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, a runner-up finish in 2021, and the development of 36 NCAA All-Americans and four individual NCAA champions. Carlson has also guided athletes to NCAA records, produced 12 ACC champions, three SEC champions, three Olympic Trials finalists, and one Olympian.
With a proven track record and extensive experience, Carlson is leading CU Athletics into a new era of excellence in cross country and track and field.
Sean Carlson guided the Buffs to multiple NCAA Indoor qualifiers. Avery Pearson set a program-record 1:59.98@ in the 800 meters, won the Big 12 600-yard title, and earned a Team Canada selection. The men’s distance medley relay of Kipkoech, Tragarz, Costelow, and Givens qualified with a school-record 9:19.00, the first DMR to reach the NCAA Championships since 1994, while Kipkoech and Givens also earned NCAA berths in the mile...The Buffs now turn their focus to the outdoor season.
2025 CROSS COUNTRY SEASON
In his second season leading the Colorado cross country program, Carlson guided the men’s and women’s teams to strong performances at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, with the men finishing 10th and extending their 33rd consecutive NCAA Championship streak, and the women placing 13th, their best result since 2022. The women’s season also included a third-place finish at the Gans Creek Invitational and a fourth-place finish at the Mountain Regional, reflecting the team’s rapid progress under Carlson.
2024–2025 TRACK SEASON
In his first season leading the Colorado on the track, Carlson guided the Buffs to multiple NCAA Championship appearances. During the indoor season, Isaiah Givens earned All-American honors by placing fifth in the mile and set a new Colorado school record. On the outdoor stage, Kole Mathison competed in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
2024 CROSS COUNTRY SEASON
In his first season leading the Colorado cross country program, Sean Carlson guided the men’s team to the NCAA Cross Country Championships and oversaw Jessie Secor’s qualification as an individual competitor, where she finished 107th in the 6k race. The men’s team finished 19th overall.
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
Before joining Colorado, Carlson spent two seasons at the University of Tennessee, where he revitalized the distance programs. He led the women’s team to a 6th-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2024, their first national appearance in nearly two decades. On the men’s side, Carlson guided the team to consecutive NCAA Championship appearances and helped develop standout athletes, including three-time NCAA champion Dylan Jacobs and All-American Yaseen Abdalla. His time in Knoxville was marked by program-building success and the development of nationally competitive distance runners.
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
Carlson began coaching at Notre Dame in 2011 as an assistant and became head coach of the men’s cross country program in 2016. Under his leadership, the team won the 2018 ACC Championship, earned a top-two national qualifying spot, and finished 14th at the NCAA Championships. Notre Dame continued its rise with a 9th-place NCAA finish in 2019 and runner-up in 2021, with six All-Americans. Carlson also developed standout athletes, including Yared Nuguse, now the American mile record holder and Tokyo Olympian, and Sam Voelz, who placed sixth at the Olympic Trials. He led the men’s DMR to one NCAA title and two runner-up finishes.
CAREER ONSET
Carlson's coaching career began at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, where he was a an All-American, conference champion and contributed to the Cardinals' NCAA Division III Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Championship titles. He then served as a cross country and track and field coach at Saint Charles North High before advancing to an assistant coaching position at Notre Dame. While at North Central, Carlson completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship and his Master’s degree in Leadership Studies.
COLLEGIATE COACHING HONORS
Carlson has received the following awards throughout his coaching career:
- 2023 South Region Cross Country Coach of the Year
- 2022 South Region Cross Country Coach of the Year
- 2021 Great Lakes Region Cross Country Coach of the Year
- 2021 ACC Cross Country Coach of the Year
- 2021 Great Lakes Region Assistant Track Coach of the Year
- 2020 ACC Cross Country Coach of the Year
- 2020 Great Lakes Region Cross Country Coach of the Year
- 2019 Great Lakes Region Assistant Track Coach of the Year
OTHER COACHING ACHIEVEMENTS
Carlson’s career is highlighted by coaching:
- 36 All-Americans
- 4 NCAA individual champions
- NCAA record-holders- 1500, 3K
- American Collegiate Record- DMR, 1500, 3K, 5K
- 12 ACC champions
- 3 SEC champions
- 3 Olympic Trials finalists
- 1 Olympian
Colorado T&F/XC: 2016 HOF Sara Gorton Slattery
Monday, August 12
Bailey Hertenstein @baileyh_ Wins the Pac-12 5k Championship @cubuffstrack #gobuffs
Monday, May 13
Pac-12 TRACK Championships - Wrap Up
Monday, May 13
@cubufffstrack First Crack at NEW Potts Field #gobuffs
Wednesday, April 10
