Lawrence announces its new head track coach

(LAWRENCE ATHLETICS) APPLETON, Wis. – Elizabeth Krug is the new head coach of the Lawrence University track and field programs, Director of Athletics Jason Imperati announced.
Krug steps into the newly created position and will work alongside Jason Fast, who has served as head coach of cross country and track and field since 2009. Fast will serve as an assistant track and field coach working with the distance runners and continue to serve as head coach for men’s and women’s cross country and assistant director of athletics.
“I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Elizabeth Krug as our new head track and field coach,” Imperati said. “This exciting transition marks a significant milestone for our athletics program as we welcome a coach with a distinguished history of excellence in both coaching and student-athlete development. Under her leadership, we anticipate a renewed energy and focus within our track and field program as she inspires our student-athletes to reach their fullest potential. We believe that her vision and expertise will not only enhance our competitive edge but also cultivate a culture of excellence that extends beyond the track.”
Krug is making the short drive to Lawrence from St. Norbert College, where she has coached since 2017. Krug was an assistant coach with the Green Knights for five seasons and has served as associate head coach for both track and field and cross country for the past three seasons.
“Lawrence has been such a welcoming environment,” Krug said. “I look forward to working with coach (Shelby) Baldwin and coach Fast and building on the momentum they’ve created these past few years. The team has a lot of growth ahead of them and bringing in student-athletes that will have an immediate impact and help us move that needle at conference is our overall goal.”
With the new coaching position, Fast can focus on the distance runners in both cross country and track and his role overseeing facilities as assistant director of athletics, Imperati said.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks for Jason Fast’s hard work and dedication, which have been instrumental in advancing our program for the past 15 years,” Imperati said. “His unwavering commitment to excellence has laid a strong foundation, and we are excited to see how this new structure will further elevate the success of our track and field program.”
Krug helped the Green Knights win seven Midwest Conference championships in track and field. St. Norbert took the women’s indoor titles in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and took outdoor titles in 2018, 2019 and 2021. The St. Norbert men also won the outdoor track title in 2021. Krug also helped St. Norbert win women’s cross country championships in 2017 and 2018.
When St. Norbert moved to the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, the Green Knights kept up their winning ways. The St. Norbert women have won the last three NACC indoor and outdoor conference championships (2022-24) and the men have won the last three indoor titles (2022-24) and two of the last three outdoor titles (2022, 2024). The St. Norbert women also captured NACC cross country titles in 2021 and 2023.
“We are so excited about the addition of Elizabeth to our staff,” Fast said. “Throughout the interview process she showed herself to be a dynamic leader who has the ability to help lead our track and field team to new heights. I’m excited to work alongside her as we continue to move Viking track and field to the top of the Midwest Conference.”
Before joining the staff at St. Norbert, Krug spent two years as a graduate assistant at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., where she worked with sprints, hurdles, javelin and combined events. Krug coached 11 Liberty League individual champions and coached an All-American in the 400-meter hurdles.
An accomplished athlete at Hendrix College in Arkansas, Krug won the NCAA Division III national championship in the heptathlon in 2013. Her mark of 5,074 points stands as the eighth-best mark in Division III history. Krug was a four-time All-American in the heptathlon and also an All-American in the pentathlon as a junior.
Lawrence will open the 2025 track and field season indoor in January.