It was a homecoming of sorts for Corey Ihmels when he was named head coach of the ISU men’s cross country team last December.

He was an all-American twice in cross country and four times in track and field when he ran for Iowa State from 1994 to 1997.

In 1994, the men’s cross country team won the NCAA Championship with contributions from Ihmels.

Since then, the team has gone downhill with the Cyclones finishing 11th in the Big 12 in 2001.

Ihmels said getting Iowa State back into the upper echelon of the conference is his main goal.

“We haven’t been a very successful team,” he said.

“Like any sport, success breeds success. I told them when I got the job that we’re going to be one of the best teams in the Big 12, if not in the country, and we’ve got to think that way.”

Ihmels said making nationals as a team is a realistic goal.

The men’s and women’s cross country teams start the season Sept. 13 when they host the ISU Open.

Mike Mwangong and Peter Hess lead the way for the Cyclones this fall as the lone seniors on the team.

Mwangong placed fifth at the 2001 Big 12 Championships and eighth at the NCAA Midwest Regional meet, narrowly missing a berth in the nationals meet.

Ihmels said if his team realizes its past isn’t relevant this season, it will go a long way towards a successful season.

“I think they’ve got to remember that, but they’ve got to remember that we’re a different team than we were then,” Ihmels said.

“I’m excited about where we’re at and I think we’re going to surprise some people.”

Sophomore Ben Fogarty said last year’s disappointing finish has driven the team mentally this year.

“Last year we were a team that finished in the bottom in the Big 12 and a little lower than we wanted to be,” Fogarty said.

“That’s been our motivation all of last year and this year.”

One thing the cross country team won’t be short on is training time. Fogarty said coach Ihmels set up a program for all of the runners over the summer.

When track and field was over, the cross country team was training two weeks later, he said.

The success of the program has a personal aspect to Ihmels since he spent four years competing for Iowa State. He said he’s tried to instill his experience into his runners.

“You’ve got a little bit more invested. How I like the guys to treat putting the uniform on . and it’s important to me that we do well,” Ihmels said.

“They know it means a lot to me, but when it becomes more important to me than it is to them, then we’ve got a problem. And I haven’t seen that.

“We’ve kind of got to keep a hand on the tradition and a handle on what we’re trying to do.”