Dan Allen is in his fourth season as head women's and men's cross country and track & field coach at SMSU in 2018-19.
Allen, who was hired on Aug. 4, 2015, is the second head coach for the SMSU cross country and track & field programs since being reinstated in 2012.
During his first season at SMSU, Allen coached Hannah Palmeter, who earned All-NSIC honors, was named NSIC Newcomer of the Year and was named all-region during the 2015 cross country season.
The 2017 season saw the program record its first NCAA All-American, as Bashir Aidrus finished 18th at the NCAA Championships. Aidrus advanced to the NCAA Championships following a second place finish at the NCAA Central Region meet. Aidrus also became the program's first All-NSIC honoree as he placed sixth at the NSIC meet.
During Allen’s first track & field season, Will Hanson, was a 2016 indoor NCAA national qualifier, while Alex Weis, earned all-region honors in the weight throw during the 2016 outdoor season and was a conference champion in the shot put.
In 2017, SMSU had four indoor All-NSIC performers, while Alex Weis was a three-time All-NSIC honoree during the outdoor season, including winning the NSIC shot put. SMSU’s 4x100 relay team also earned All-NSIC honors with a second place finish.
The 2018 outdoor track season saw another first for the program as freshman Rebecca Manteuffel became the first SMSU female to compete at the NCAA Championships, placing 18th in the discus.
Allen came to SMSU after spending one season as head men's and women's track & field/cross country coach at NCAA Division III Marian University in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. During his one season, Allen helped double the size of the track & field team, which was added as an intercollegiate sport in 2013.
Before taking over at Marian, Allen was an assistant coach for the track & field/cross country programs at Augustana College from 2012-14. He helped the program capture three cross country conference and region championships, including a runner-up finish at the 2012 NCAA Division II women's national championships. He also helped coach 11 cross country All-Americans and 20 All-Americans in track & field during his two seasons on staff.
Allen, a native of Waite Park, Minn., was a four-year member of the St. Cloud State University cross country and track & field teams, including serving as a captain for two years on the cross country squad and three times on the track & field team. He was a two-time All-NSIC honoree in cross country and was a seven-time All-NSIC performer in track. He set the school record in the 800 meter with a time of 1:51.07 in 2010. He later placed 11th in the 800 meters at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships to earn second team All-American honors. Allen was also an Academic All-NSIC honoree numerous times in both cross country and track & field.
Allen earned his bachelor's degree from SCSU in 2011 and his master's degree from Augustana College in 2014.
