Lance Nydeen Earns Section 5a Coach of the Year recognition

Saint John’s Prep is proud to announce that Lance Nydeen has been named the Section 5A Girls’ Head Coach of the Year for girls’ cross-country. This honor was given after a vote of his peers in MSHSL Section 5A. This honor comes after the girls’ team earned a trip to the state cross country championship race, after earning their spot at the Section 5A race in Hinckley on Thursday.

Coach Nydeen says he will never forget this exciting 2024 cross-country season for Saint John’s Prep. “This season is particularly memorable due to the enthusiasm and dedication of this very young, but extremely talented group of young women!  They love to run, they want to learn, and they are incredibly supportive of each other!  They are the true embodiment of what it means to be a Prep Student and athlete!  These girls continued to work hard every day, improve and support each other!”

Coach Nydeen has been involved in a variety of sports during his 35 years as a coach, including Nordic skiing and football. At Saint John’s Prep he became the head girls’ track and field coach in 1995 and the head boys’ and girls’ cross-country coach in 2009.

He is passionate about supporting students as they learn to compete and succeed in athletics. “I love to get to know the students in a different setting.  It allows me a greater ability to make connections and better my teaching.  I enjoy developing lifelong relationships and skills outside of a classroom setting.  Coaching does that for me.  I also enjoy watching athletes learn, grow and succeed with their goals and mature!”

Coach Nydeen is extremely appreciative of the hard work the Prep assistant coaches put into program and the time they give to the athletes. The Saint John’s Prep cross-country teams are also coached by Stephen Woods ‘09, Kurt Salzl ’87, Jen Drakkar, and Claire Kissela ’20. This year Stephen Woods ’09 was named Section 5A Assistant Coach of the Year for girls’ cross-country.

The last race of the season for Coach Nydeen and the girls’ cross country-team is the MSHSL State Cross-Country Championship race on November 2 at the University of Minnesota’s Les Bolsted Golf Course. Class A will have a start time of Girls Class A (SJP GIRLS’ TEAM): 2:30pm and Boys Class A (Connor McMahon ’29) at 3:15pm.

Coach Nydeen is a history and social studies teacher at Saint John’s Prep. He and his family live in St. Joseph, MN. He is the father or Prep alumnae Taylor ’27, Reid ’19, and Jaedyn ’22.