Coaches

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Patrick Belling

Head Cross Country/Track and Field Coach
The University of South Dakota ’03
The University of South Dakota ’06
pabellin@dwu.edu
605-995-2954

In five seasons with the Dakota Wesleyan University cross country and track and field programs, head coach Pat Belling has seen many records fall and coached numerous athletes to Great Plains Athletic Conference honors and NAIA National Championship appearances. In his sixth season with the program, Belling hopes to continue that success.

During the 2010 cross country season, the Tigers hosted their first meet since the 2008 season when it held the DWU Invite at Lakeview Golf Course. Belling coached two NAIA Scholar-Athletes in Chris Creal and Abby Mettler.

During the 2010-11 indoor track season, Belling coached sophomore sprinter Tamika Irvin to a GPAC title in the 60-meter dash. She, along with Alyssa Christianson, Gail McIntyre, Derik Fossum and Alex Liberty, all earned individual All-GPAC honors, and the men’s and women’s 1,600-meter relay squads also earned All-Conference accolades. Irvin (60, long jump), Christianson (200-meter dash), McIntyre (3,000 steeplechase) and Liberty (high jump) all qualified for the NAIA Indoor National Championships, and Irvin, Christianson, Natalie Munger and Kailey Hunhoff qualified in the 1,600-meter relay. The women’s team set 10 records and had 33 performances in the top 10 in school history. The Tiger men set two records and had 20 performances in the top 10 in school history.

In the 2011 outdoor season, Irvin and McIntyre both won GPAC titles. Irvin won the 100-meter dash, and McIntyre won the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Those two, along with Ellie Peterson (marathon), Liberty (high jump) and Fossum (triple jump) all competed at the NAIA Outdoor National Championships. Irvin made the semifinals but failed to make the final race. McIntyre just missed All-American honors with a seventh-place finish, and Peterson recorded a 10th-place finish. The women earned All-GPAC honors in four events, set six records and had 21 performances in the top 10 in school history. The men had two All-GPAC performances and had 10 top-10 performances.

Overall, Belling had individuals qualify for the national meets in 10 individual events and in one relay. He had 14 All-GPAC selections and four NAIA Scholar-Athletes. In his first five seasons at Dakota Wesleyan, Belling has coached 48 All-GPAC Selections, 18 NAIA Scholar-Athletes and two GPAC Athletes-of-the-Week.

Belling came to DWU after three seasons as the track and field graduate assistant coach at the University of South Dakota. He worked with the sprinters and was part of the Coyote outdoor squad that finished fourth in the nation, the second-best outdoor finish in school history.

Belling, an Omaha, Neb., native, was a three-time NCAA All-American sprinter at USD and a member of NCC Championship teams. He was a member of the 4×400-meter relay squad that finished sixth at the 2002 NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships. Belling was also a member of the 4×100-meter relay team that set a state record with a time of 40.80 in 2001-02.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from USD in December 2003 and completed his Master of Arts degree in athletic administration from USD in May 2006.

A graduate of Omaha Roncalli Catholic High School, Belling was a Nebraska Class “B” State Champion in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash at the 1999 Nebraska State Track Meet. His time of 21.92 won the 200-meter dash All-Class Gold Medal that year, and his time of 10.79 in the 100-meter dash set a new Class “B” state meet record.

Belling currently lives in Mitchell.

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Zeke Prado

Assistant Track and Field Coach
Dakota Wesleyan University ’06
zeprado@dwu.edu
605-995-2858

Zeke Prado begins his second season as an assistant coach with the Dakota Wesleyan University track and field program in 2011-12.

Prado, who is also an assistant football coach at DWU, works with the sprinters, jumpers and hurdlers at Dakota Wesleyan, and he also helps with recruiting.

Prado was a wide receivers coach for the Tiger football team from 2005-07 and returned in 2010 to take over as quarterbacks coach. He has also coached for the Rosemead Rebels organization, at San Gabriel High School, East Los Angeles College and Temple City High School.

Prado started his college football career with Chuck Lyons College of the Canyon and John Cicuto at Glendale Community College before transferring to Dakota Wesleyan before the 2001 season. In his two-year career as a wide receiver for the Tigers, Prado caught 88 passes for 1,078 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is among DWU’s leaders for career receiving yards, single-season receiving yards, career receptions and single-season receptions. Prado, who was also a kick and punt returner, was a two-time All-GPAC Honorable Mention selection.

After completing his playing career at DWU, Prado earned a B.A. in sports and exercise science and a master’s degree in secondary education from Grand Canyon University. He is the cofounder of Legends of Character, a nonprofit organization that works with parents and student-athletes and uses academics and athletics as a tool to continue their education.

Prado lives in Mitchell.

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Ian Ames

Assistant Cross Country/Track and Field Coach

Ian Ames will help with the Dakota Wesleyan cross country and track and field programs this year.

The Woonsocket, S.D., native will help with the jumpers and middle- and long-distance runners.

When he is not coaching at DWU, Ames enjoys Special Olympics basketball, softball and bowling. His favorite team is the Denver Broncos, and he also enjoys watching WWE Monday Night Raw and Cops.