Iowa State didn’t have to look far for its new men’s cross country coach; Corey Ihmels has always had close ties to the university.

Four years after graduating from Iowa State as a six-time All-American – four in track and field, two in cross country – Ihmels is returning to his roots to take the position vacated by Kevin Bourke.

Bourke resigned the position in October to become the director of sports and operations with the Iowa Games.

Ihmels, 27, will also serve as the distance coach for the men’s track and field team, a team that he’s very familiar with.

“I have a lot of athletic experience at Iowa State, as well as familiarity with the area and the program,” Ihmels said. “I think they wanted to come in with someone who knew Iowa State, with someone who had a vested interest in the program.”

Steve Lynn, men’s track and field coach and the man responsible for hiring Ihmels, said the decision to hire Ihmels got easier and easier during the process.

“There were a lot of very qualified people and they all brought something to the table, but every time I interviewed someone, I came back to Corey and said `he’s got those attributes, if not more,'” Lynn said.

He said Ihmel’s strong qualities stood out from all the rest.

“I wanted somebody that was a good person, someone that has a great knowledge of distance events, somebody that really wants Iowa State to be good,” he said. “Corey fit all of those.”

Ihmels helped Iowa State to the 1994 NCAA Championship and was the first-ever Big 12 Conference Track and Field Championships MVP.

“He’s a four-minute miler, for God-sakes; you don’t get to work with one of those all the time,” said freshman Craig Cartier, a member of the cross country and track and field teams. “That’s a pretty exciting thing. We all wish Coach Bourke the best; he did a lot for us and this program, but we’re excited for what Corey is going to bring.”

“It is flattering, anyway you look at it. For the guys to be excited as they are is real flattering,” Ihmels said. “I’m hoping to bring excitement and a competitive fire to the program.”

Ihmels comes to Iowa State from Arizona State where he spent a year and a half as an assistant coach.

As for leaving the warm Arizona weather behind for the cold Iowa winters, Ihmels is looking forward to it.

“I’m originally from North Dakota,” he said. “I’m not afraid of the snow.”