ST. LOUIS – University of Missouri-St. Louis Executive Director of Athletics
Dr. Holly Sheilley announced on Monday (Aug. 25) that
Rob Arvin has been hired as the head men's and women's cross country coach. Arvin takes over for Steve Picucci who went to Tennessee-Chattanooga.
"I would like to thank Executive Director of Athletics
Dr. Holly Sheilley and the Athletic Department for their confidence in me to lead the men's and women's cross country programs and the opportunity to meet the academic and athletic standards expected at UMSL," Arvin said.
Arvin has been an assistant coach the past two seasons for the Tritons helping lead the men to back-to-back fourth-place finishes at the 2023 and 2024 Great Lakes Valley Conference championship meets which are the highest finish in program history.
In addition, he helped mentor All-GLVC performers
Benjamin VandenBrink and
Jacob Warner. VandenBrink finished second at the 2023 GLVC Championships in Bolivar, Mo., and was an individual qualifier for the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Warner earned All-GLVC honors in 2023 and 2024.
On the women's side, Arvin helped guide the Tritons to an eighth place finish at the 2023 GLVC Cross Country championships which was the highest in program history.
Kayley Heeter finished 28th overall at the meet for the highest individual finish in program history.
In addition to his coaching credentials, Arvin was a successful student athlete on both the cross country circuit as well as the track. Arvin maintains an active competitive running career, specializing in half marathon and marathon distances as a master level runner. He has competed in two of the World Marathon Majors, underscoring his deep personal commitment to the sport and firsthand understanding of high-level competition.
Arvin got his bachelor's degree in fine arts and communications from SIU-Edwardsville and his master's degree in business management from Webster University.
