Staff Directory
Carlson, Sean
Sean Carlson
- Title:
- Director of Cross Country and Track & Field
Sean Carlson has been named Director of Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field at the University of Colorado, as announced by Athletic Director Rick George on July 25, 2024. Carlson arrives in Boulder from the University of Tennessee, where he served as the Director of Men's and Women's Cross Country. Before transforming the distance programs in Knoxville, Carlson spent over a decade coaching at the University of Notre Dame.
Carlson boasts an exceptional coaching record that includes top-10 team finishes at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in four of the last five years, including a notable runner-up finish in 2021. He has coached 36 NCAA All-Americans, guided four NCAA individual champions, and developed multiple NCAA record-holders. His coaching pedigree also includes 12 ACC champions, three SEC champions, three Olympic Trials finalists, and one Olympian.
With a proven track record and a wealth of experience, Sean Carlson is set to lead CU Athletics into a new era of excellence in cross country and track and field.
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
At Tennessee, Carlson revitalized the women’s distance program. Under his leadership, the Lady Vols, who were unranked nationally at the start of the 2023 cross country season and had not qualified for nationals in 20 years, achieved a remarkable 6th place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
He also played a pivotal role in developing some of the top distance runners in the NCAA, including three-time NCAA champion Dylan Jacobs.
2023-2024
The women’s team qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championship for the first time since 2006 and came away with a 6th place national finish after entering the season ranked 6th in the South Region.
The men’s team made their second consecutive appearance at the NCAA Cross Country Championship, their first time qualifying in back-to-back years since 2001. During the indoor season, Yaseen Abdalla claimed second-team All-American status in the 3000m. Abdalla went on to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where he finished as a second-team All-American in the 5000m.
2022-2023
In his first season at Tennessee, Carlson guided the Vols to a runner-up finish at the SEC Championships, the program's highest since 1999. At NCAA South Regionals, Carlson led the men to their first regional title since 1995, followed by their highest finish at the NCAA Championships since 1995 (20th). Individually, Dylan Jacobs (4th) and Yaseen Abdalla (33rd) secured individual All-American honors for the Vols.
Carlson guided Dylan Jacobs through a historic season. Jacobs won an NCAA title in the Indoor 5000m and helped the Vols capture their first men's DMR conference championship since 2007. Jacobs recorded an NCAA no. 2 all-time mark of 7:36.89 in the 3000m and American collegiate record of 13:11.01 in the 5000m. Jacobs also claimed the 2023 NCAA indoor 5000m title, adding to his 2022 10,000m national title from Notre Dame.
Under Carlson, Yaseen Abdalla set a Sudanese national record and a collegiate all-time top-10 mark in the Indoor 3000m with a time of 7:42.23. Abdalla finished runner-up at the SEC Championships in the 5000m and earned second team All-American honors in the 3000m at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
Carlson initially began coaching the Irish in 2011 as an assistant coach. When Carlson took over as head coach of Notre Dame's men's cross country program in 2016, the team finished 14th at the Great Lakes Regional Championship. In 2018, he led Notre Dame to an ACC Championship title, a top-two national qualifying spot, and a 14th place finish at the NCAA Championships.
The team's progress continued with a 9th place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2019, culminating in a runner-up finish at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships, where six runners earned All-American honors.
In addition to improving the team’s performances, Carlson was also instrumental in the development of renowned distance runner Yared Nuguse, now the American record holder in the mile. While coached by Carlson, Nuguse qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, set the NCAA 1500m record, and won two NCAA titles. Carlson also led the men DMR to a NCAA title and two runner-up finishes while at Notre Dame. Apart of his middle distance contingent was Sam Voelz who was 6th at the olympic trials final in college.
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
Carlson boasts an exceptional coaching record that includes top-10 team finishes at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in four of the last five years, including a notable runner-up finish in 2021. He has coached 36 NCAA All-Americans, guided four NCAA individual champions, and developed multiple NCAA record-holders. His coaching pedigree also includes 12 ACC champions, three SEC champions, three Olympic Trials finalists, and one Olympian.
With a proven track record and a wealth of experience, Sean Carlson is set to lead CU Athletics into a new era of excellence in cross country and track and field.
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
At Tennessee, Carlson revitalized the women’s distance program. Under his leadership, the Lady Vols, who were unranked nationally at the start of the 2023 cross country season and had not qualified for nationals in 20 years, achieved a remarkable 6th place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
He also played a pivotal role in developing some of the top distance runners in the NCAA, including three-time NCAA champion Dylan Jacobs.
2023-2024
The women’s team qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championship for the first time since 2006 and came away with a 6th place national finish after entering the season ranked 6th in the South Region.
The men’s team made their second consecutive appearance at the NCAA Cross Country Championship, their first time qualifying in back-to-back years since 2001. During the indoor season, Yaseen Abdalla claimed second-team All-American status in the 3000m. Abdalla went on to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where he finished as a second-team All-American in the 5000m.
2022-2023
In his first season at Tennessee, Carlson guided the Vols to a runner-up finish at the SEC Championships, the program's highest since 1999. At NCAA South Regionals, Carlson led the men to their first regional title since 1995, followed by their highest finish at the NCAA Championships since 1995 (20th). Individually, Dylan Jacobs (4th) and Yaseen Abdalla (33rd) secured individual All-American honors for the Vols.
Carlson guided Dylan Jacobs through a historic season. Jacobs won an NCAA title in the Indoor 5000m and helped the Vols capture their first men's DMR conference championship since 2007. Jacobs recorded an NCAA no. 2 all-time mark of 7:36.89 in the 3000m and American collegiate record of 13:11.01 in the 5000m. Jacobs also claimed the 2023 NCAA indoor 5000m title, adding to his 2022 10,000m national title from Notre Dame.
Under Carlson, Yaseen Abdalla set a Sudanese national record and a collegiate all-time top-10 mark in the Indoor 3000m with a time of 7:42.23. Abdalla finished runner-up at the SEC Championships in the 5000m and earned second team All-American honors in the 3000m at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
Carlson initially began coaching the Irish in 2011 as an assistant coach. When Carlson took over as head coach of Notre Dame's men's cross country program in 2016, the team finished 14th at the Great Lakes Regional Championship. In 2018, he led Notre Dame to an ACC Championship title, a top-two national qualifying spot, and a 14th place finish at the NCAA Championships.
The team's progress continued with a 9th place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2019, culminating in a runner-up finish at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships, where six runners earned All-American honors.
In addition to improving the team’s performances, Carlson was also instrumental in the development of renowned distance runner Yared Nuguse, now the American record holder in the mile. While coached by Carlson, Nuguse qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, set the NCAA 1500m record, and won two NCAA titles. Carlson also led the men DMR to a NCAA title and two runner-up finishes while at Notre Dame. Apart of his middle distance contingent was Sam Voelz who was 6th at the olympic trials final in college.
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
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