Rod Wortley

In his 10th year at the helm of the Cornerstone University Cross Country and Track & Field teams, Coach Wortley has build a solid program producing the best runners, jumpers and throwers in school history. Every year he has taken athletes to the NAIA National Championships and 52 times they have returned with All-America honors along with 22 All-America Scholar Athlete awards. His athletes have also earned over 100 individual Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference titles in the last 6 years.

Wortley was named NAIA Region VII and VIII Coach of the year for women in 2001, 2004 and 2005 and for men in 2003 and was the 2003 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Women’s Indoor and Men’s Outdoor Coach of the Year. He was also selected the 2000 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Cross Country Coach of the Year for both men and women.

Wortley graduated from Cornerstone University in 1988 with a BA in English Literature. He completed his MA in English/Professional Writing at Western Michigan University in 1992. He also holds three U.S.A. Track & Field Level II coaching certifications. His wife, Anita is also a Cornerstone University alumnus. They have 2 children. 

Nate Van Holten

Nate Van Holten begins his sixth year as an assistant coach for Men’s Middle Distance and Distance events. Over the past few seasons his athlete have broken all but one of the school records in Cross Country and distance events in Track.

The 2006 Cross Country season was a record breaking year for Van Holten’s men’s team as they gained many firsts and major accomplishments. They got their first national ranking, invitational win, and qualified for the National Championships. The school records for team time as well as individual time were broken as well. They then went on to finish 11th in their first appearance which is higher than any of their previous rankings.

During his collegiate career, Van Holten was an NAIA All-American 4 x 400 meter runner, competing in four national championship events and earned WHAC titles in relay events. According to Head Coach, Rod Wortley, “Nate does a tremendous job with strategy and motivation. He has a way of getting the very best out of his athletes.”

Van Holten received a Masters Degree in Social Work from Grand Valley State University in 2004 and completed his B.S. in Youth Psychology from Cornerstone University in 2002. He also holds three USATF Level II coaching certifications as well as the instructor training certification.