Bio

John Niendorf is in his second year in 2023-2024 as head coach of the Governors State men's & women's cross country teams and third year overall with GSU. He was named the second head coach in the program's history on January 20, 2022. Earlier in 2023, he was also named the GSU Head Coach for Jaguar Indoor and Outdoor Track teams that will be competing later this year and into 2024. 

Niendorf was an assistant coach for the Jaguars in 2021. He helped four runners achieve personal record times as the Jaguar coaching staff implemented a new training regimen.

Niendorf is no stranger to the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference having competed for St. Francis where he was a member of the 2012 NAIA national championship team. He posted a personal-record 8K time of 25:35 at the CCACs that same year. He was a CCAC All-Academic Team selection and chosen as USF's Scholar Athlete of the Year. As a track performer, he posted PRs of 15:22 at 5,000 meters and 9:50 in the steeplechase, earning All-CCAC honors in the later event. He graduated with a degree from USF in 2015.

As a high schooler, Niendorf ran cross country and track at Lincoln Way East and Lincoln Way North, setting multiple school records.

Niendorf teaches history at Rich Township where he has coached cross country and track. He has coached multiple all-conference and state qualifiers and has former athletes who have gone on to earn college scholarships.

Niendorf is an active runner, clocking 2 hours, 45 minutes in his first marathon. He competed in the 2021 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and was the top USF Alumni finisher at the 2021 Fighting Saints Twilight Invitational. He and his wife Donna reside in Crete.

GSU Cross Country Runners and Coaches at NAIA Nationals - Pacific Northwest - November, 2023.