Nick Radkewich

Nick Radkewich is Wingate University's first-ever women’s triathlon head coach. The Olympian has served as the head coach at Belmont Abbey College, while also spending 10 years as a coach and consultant at Avengers Sports.

The Bulldogs announced the addition of women’s triathlon in June. “I am pleased to welcome Nick Radkewich to Wingate University and the Bulldog athletic family,” Poston says. “I cannot think of a person more qualified to lead our inaugural triathlon program. His excitement and enthusiasm for the sport was evident throughout the interview process. As an Olympian and collegiate coach, he brings instant credibility and visibility to our triathlon program which should be extremely beneficial in attracting high quality student-athletes to our University. We are excited to add triathlon to our athletic offerings and believe it will be a great fit for our university. I am convinced that Nick is the right person to lead us in this new venture as we look forward to our first competition next fall.”

Radkewich spent three years at Belmont Abbey College, where he was the head cross country, track and field and triathlon coach for the Crusaders. He helped the cross country teams claim a pair of top-three finishes while coaching 14 track and field student-athletes to conference titles. Radkewich also had the conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year and 27 All-Conference Academic award winners. The Crusaders won four Conference Messick Team Awards for Sportsmanship during his tenure.

Radkewich created a USA Triathlon grant for $70,000 to help start the program at Belmont Abbey. During his time at Belmont Abbey, he was a member of the U.S. Track & Field, Cross Country Coaches Association, was on the Cross Country Executive Committee and was the Conference Carolinas Cross Country Committee Chairman in 2016 and 2017. Radkewich served as the Conference Carolinas Cross Country Championship meet director every year of his Belmont Abbey career.

“I want to thank President Dr. Rhett Brown, Vice President Heather Miller, Athletic Director Steve Poston, and Deputy Director of Athletics Michelle Caddigan for advancing the development of triathlon as an NCAA sport and honoring me with the opportunity to lead the program,” Radkewich says. “As a past competitor, I had great respect for Bulldog athletic programs, but when I toured the campus and met with university and athletic department staff I realized how special Wingate is as a community. I look forward to contributing to the growth of that community and the continued success of Bulldog Athletics. I also want to thank Chief Sport Development Officer Tim Yount and the USA Triathlon development staff for their efforts to establish triathlon as an NCAA championship sport, and I look forward to working with them to continue triathlon’s growth and evolution.”

Radkewich has spent the past decade as a coach and consultant at Avengers Sports and 4D Endurance. In his 10 years there, he helped design and implement personal endurance training programs in triathlon and running to all skill levels and provided event marketing and product development services to major event promoters and manufacturers. He also managed a pilot program between USA Triathlon, the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs and the U.S. Olympic Committee; mentoring athletes at the Olympic Training Center with two Junior Elite National Champions; One 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier, a Collegiate National Championship, and a Pan Am Elite Junior Championship podium. Radkewich was selected as a member of the coaching staff for the 2012 International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series Finals in Auckland, New Zealand.

“We are excited to have Coach Radkewich join the athletic department as the new women’s triathlon head coach,” Wingate University Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Matt Van Lierop says. “I’ve known Nick for years and he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Wingate Athletics. He was a formidable adversary while we were both at rival Conference Carolinas schools, so it’s nice to finally have him now join our Bulldog family as an ally. I’m looking forward to watching Nick grow the Triathlon teams at Wingate, and cannot wait to see what he brings to this endurance program.”

Radkewich has also served as the head cross country coach and Endicott College from 2013 through 2015. He was an assistant coach at Rivier University from 2011 through 2013.

Radkewich has an impressive career that includes four years at the University of Notre Dame as a member of the cross country and track and field teams, followed by a successful career as an Olympic triathlete. He helped Notre Dame finish third at the 1990 NCAA championships, while finishing second as an individual at the conference championship. Radkewich was a three-time all-conference honoree in Indoor Track & Field.

Radkewich was a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Triathlon Team. The five-time national champion was named the 1998 USA Triathlon & US Olympic Committee Triathlete of the Year. He was also a two-time member of the US Goodwill Games team.

Radkewich graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Notre Dame in 1993, majoring in Management Information Systems. He received his Master’s Degree from New England College in 2010 in Sports and Recreation Management.