Bio

Cleveland's Credentials

• 15 seasons as Simpson's head coach
• 32 All-Americans
• 90 Conference Champions
• 288 All-Conference Performers
• 6 Conference Most Valuable Performers
• 2-time IIAC Coach of the Year

The 2020-21 season marks Dave Cleveland’s 16th as the head track and field coach at Simpson. Since taking over the program in 2006, Cleveland has coached 32 All-Americans, 90 conference champions and six conference championship MVPs. Cleveland is a two-time IIAC Coach of the Year.

At the 2019-20 American Rivers Conference Indoor Championships, Sam Adeniyi became Cleveland's 90th conference champion with a first-place nod in the heptathlon. Along with Adeniyi, Austin Greenwalt earned all-conference honors in the event to push Cleveland's all-conference performers list to 288.

Cleveland's teams saw success at the conference championships with his 4x200 and 4x400 relays winning the 2017 and 2018 indoor titles, with two individuals winning four golds during those events as well. Dylan Kalinay won two individual titles and helped the 4x200 come in first to be named the conference's most valuable performer at the 2018 indoor championships. Kalinay carried the momentum into the outdoor season with two league titles and placed third at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships for the men's highest finisher since 1996.

Cleveland led the men's team to a third-place finish at the 2015-16 IIAC Indoor Championships, giving his staff Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Cleveland groomed a young, talented group of sprinters that won conference titles in the indoor 4x200, the outdoor 4x100 and took home an individual title in the indoor 200 (Emmitt Wheatley). The 4x100 team set four school records throughout the season, breaking what was a 23-year old mark in the event.

Cleveland has sent at least one athlete to the Division III National Meet in 13 of his 15 seasons. Dylan Kalinay became Cleveland's 32nd All-American with a third-place effort in the 60-meter hurdles at the Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2018. The highest finish by a Simpson athlete at nationals under Cleveland came in 2010 when Catie Ellingson placed second in the outdoor 1500 meters.

In 2008, Cleveland earned Iowa Conference Indoor Women’s Coach of the Year honors and in 2010 he led the women’s team to top-20 finishes at indoor and outdoor nationals, finishing the outdoor season ranked No. 9 in the nation by the USTFCCCA. In 2016, Cleveland earned Iowa Conference Indoor Men's Coach of the Year honors and led the men to a No. 17 final national ranking by the USTFCCCA in 2017.

Cleveland's student-athletes excel in the classroom as well and are a perennial fixture on the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team earning Team Academic All-American status in each of his 15 seasons at the helm.

Prior to his arrival at Simpson College, Cleveland served as the head boys’ track coach at Cedar Falls High School from 1994-2005. Cleveland led Cedar Falls to top five finishes at the 1998, 2004 and 2005 state track meets. He was named Mississippi Valley Conference Coach of the Year four times (1998-99, 2000, 2002) and was named Iowa Association of Track Coaches Regional Coach of the Year in 1998 and 1999.

While at Cedar Falls, Cleveland was a biology teacher and also assistant varsity boys’ basketball coach (1994-2001) and assistant varsity football coach (1994-95). Cleveland moved to Cedar Falls from Webster City High School where he was the head girls’ track coach from 1990-94. He led Webster City to four straight conference championships from 1990-94.

Cleveland is a 1990 graduate of University of Northern Iowa where he was a three-time Conference High Jump Champion (1988-90) and a five-time Academic All-Conference selection. Cleveland received a master’s degree in secondary education from Viterbo University (Wis.) in 2001 and a second master's degree in educational leadership from Drake University in 2009. Cleveland also serves as an Assistant Athletic Director as well as having NCAA Compliance duties at Simpson.

Dave and his wife Terra, sons Leo and Max, and daughter Brinley, reside in Indianola. 

Cleveland's All-Americans

top national finish under Cleveland