The 2022-23 season will be the eighth at the helm of the cross country program for Dylan Zitzer, as well as the eighth season for Cross Country as a varsity sport at Montana Western. Under Zitzer's direction, outdoor track made its return as a varsity sport in 2017, competing for the first time since 1986. He also started the indoor track team in 2017.
UMW (2015-Present)
Zitzer has coached 26 national qualifiers in cross country, one for indoor track, and four in outdoor track. He has coached three cross country All-Americans and one in outdoor track.
In cross country, he has coached 22 all-conference runners, one runner of the year, 52 academic all-conference selections, 10 Daktronic Scholar-Athletes, and six CoSIDA academic All-District selections. The 2019 women's team became the first team for UMW to qualify for the national meet.
Before Montana Western
Red Lodge High School (2013-2015) Prior to UMW, Zitzer spent two successful years coaching track and cross country at Red Lodge High School in Red Lodge, Mont. Zitzer helped guide the boys team to a State Championship in 2013 and 2014, and his girls team to a second-place finish in 2014.
Running Career (Concordia University)
Zitzer ran collegiately at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon. During his time as an athlete at Concordia he helped qualify the Cavaliers to the NAIA National Championships in 2008, 2009, and 2010. He was also voted Most Improved in 2008, Most Inspirational in 2009, and Champion of Character in 2010.
He was on the 2005 Class A runner-up team and the 2006 State Championship team at Beaverhead County High School, Zitzer also garnered all-state individual honors.
Personal
A native of Dillon, Mont., Zitzer is a 2007 graduate of Beaverhead County High School. He graduated with a degree in Biology from Concordia in 2011. Zitzer finished his Masters of Science Education in 2015 from Western Governors University.
Dylan and his wife Kelsie reside in Dillon.
