VICTOR PATAKY

Coach Pataky joined Pepperdine in August 2021 as the men’s and women’s assistant cross country and track and field coach.

In his current role, Pataky is the lead recruiter for both programs, and will assist in all facets of training for both teams. He holds a USATF Level 1 Coaching Certification as well as a Jumping Event Specialist Certification from the USTFCCCA.

Previously, Pataky served as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for both track and cross country programs at Millsaps College in Jackson, MS. Pataky helped to bring in the largest recruiting class in school history.

Prior to joining the Majors, Pataky competed for and trained with the Asics GTC-Elite Olympic Development group in Greenville, S.C., from 2018-20. While in Greenville, Pataky served as the director and coach of the Greenville Track Club Rabbits Youth Program.

He also was an assistant track & field coach at Webster University in St. Louis, Mo., in 2017-18. There, he was part of a coaching staff that received the SLIAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Pataky worked with the steeplechase athletes and developed the strength and conditioning programs for the middle distance/distance athletes. The Webster University track and field teams were women’s SLIAC team champions and men’s SLIAC team runner-ups. Athletes that were directly coached by Pataky achieved three all-conference accolades and one became an individual conference champion. Pataky also served as an Elite Athlete Recruiter for the Festival of Miles track meet while in St. Louis.

In 2016-17, Pataky completed his first year of coaching at his alma mater, Centre College. He oversaw the same duties at Centre, which helped produce three national qualifiers to the 2016 NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships (one athlete receiving All-American honors for her sixth-place finish), and a third-place finisher in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase at the 2017 NCAA Division III National Championships.

Pataky graduated with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral neuroscience with a minor in psychology in 2016. During his running career at Centre, Pataky was an 11-time all-conference recipient in the Southern Athletic Association, six-time individual conference champion, and was the 2015 SAA Athlete of the Year in cross country and track & field.

Pataky also broke and holds five track & field school records. He also qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championships in cross country (2014 and 2015), and the NCAA Division III National Championships in track and field in 2016.