Zak Kirk Hired to Track & Field/Cross Country Coaching Staff
August 20, 2026 | Cross Country, Track & Field
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Joe Franklin has announced the addition of Zak Kirk as an assistant coach to the Cardinals' staff, who will work specifically with distance and lead the team's recruiting efforts.
Kirk most recently served as the assistant coach of cross country and track at California Baptist University, where he spent the past two seasons (2024-26).
"We are incredibly excited to welcome Zak to Louisville," said Franklin. "He is one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the country, and he will be instrumental in helping us elevate our programs to the next level."
During his time at California Baptist, Kirk guided the Lancers to three West Athletic Conference Cross Country team championships, while also mentoring his athletes to three individual All-American honors, six individual conference titles and multiple program records.
"I couldn't be more grateful to be joining a program that is filled with world class athletes and coaches," said Kirk. "Getting to be a part of this university is highly motivating and I can't wait to dedicate myself to its future successes."
Since joining the CBU staff in August of 2024, Kirk's impact on the team was seen in multiple program records and achievements. In 2025, Kirk led the men's cross country team to its first top-two finish in program history at the West Regional Cross Country Championships, automatically qualifying them for the NCAA Cross Country Championships, where they placed 25th as a team. Over the course of the season, the team reached as high as 15th in the national rankings.
In his first outdoor season in Riverside, Kirk helped the program earn its first male first team All-American in school history, as Valentin Soca placed fourth in the men's 5000m at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Kirk began his coaching career in 2023, spending one season coaching at Toledo, where he helped the women's team to a team title at the Mid-American Conference Cross Country Championships, while the men finished as the runner-up.
As an athlete, Kirk competed on the Eastern Kentucky track & field/cross country team from 2017-20. In 2019, he received All-Ohio Valley Conference first team and NCAA All-Southeast Region honors on the cross country course. That same year, he also won a pair of bronze medals at the OVC Indoor Championships, placing third in the men's 5000m and mile. He then spent 2020-22 with the Portland cross country team, where he received All-West Coast Conference second team honors in 2020.
Kirk most recently served as the assistant coach of cross country and track at California Baptist University, where he spent the past two seasons (2024-26).
"We are incredibly excited to welcome Zak to Louisville," said Franklin. "He is one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the country, and he will be instrumental in helping us elevate our programs to the next level."
During his time at California Baptist, Kirk guided the Lancers to three West Athletic Conference Cross Country team championships, while also mentoring his athletes to three individual All-American honors, six individual conference titles and multiple program records.
"I couldn't be more grateful to be joining a program that is filled with world class athletes and coaches," said Kirk. "Getting to be a part of this university is highly motivating and I can't wait to dedicate myself to its future successes."
Since joining the CBU staff in August of 2024, Kirk's impact on the team was seen in multiple program records and achievements. In 2025, Kirk led the men's cross country team to its first top-two finish in program history at the West Regional Cross Country Championships, automatically qualifying them for the NCAA Cross Country Championships, where they placed 25th as a team. Over the course of the season, the team reached as high as 15th in the national rankings.
In his first outdoor season in Riverside, Kirk helped the program earn its first male first team All-American in school history, as Valentin Soca placed fourth in the men's 5000m at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Kirk began his coaching career in 2023, spending one season coaching at Toledo, where he helped the women's team to a team title at the Mid-American Conference Cross Country Championships, while the men finished as the runner-up.
As an athlete, Kirk competed on the Eastern Kentucky track & field/cross country team from 2017-20. In 2019, he received All-Ohio Valley Conference first team and NCAA All-Southeast Region honors on the cross country course. That same year, he also won a pair of bronze medals at the OVC Indoor Championships, placing third in the men's 5000m and mile. He then spent 2020-22 with the Portland cross country team, where he received All-West Coast Conference second team honors in 2020.
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