Evergreen

Joel Pearson is in his fourth year as the head coach of cross country and track & field coach at The Evergreen State College in 2026-27. During his first three years, the Geoducks saw tremendous growth and national success in the program, including four national champions in Izabelle Trefts (twice, 3k race walk) and Alauna Carstens (twice, NAIA Marathon), 18 All-American honors, 27 National Qualifiers, a collegiate record, a Team USA qualifier and the second fastest performances ever in the NAIA Women’s 6k XC, Marathon, 5k Race Walk, and USA Race Walk Half-Marathon. On the team side, the women’s marathon team achieved a runner-up finish at the NAIA Marathon Classic in 2025, while the men placed fourth. The Geoduck women placed 12th at the NAIA Indoor T&F Nationals with 23 points in 2026, making those three the highest national team places in the athletic history for Evergreen. Additionally, the cross country and track and field program saw a large growth each recruiting year, with an additional roster size of 55 student-athletes.

Pearson arrived back on Evergreen’s campus after a coaching stint at the University of Arkansas Little Rock, an NCAA DI institution in the Ohio Valley Conference. While with the Little Rock Trojans, Pearson helped the men’s and women’s track & field programs to a second-place finish at the OVC Championships, while Andrew Payton (4:05-Mile) and Nick Newby (4:06-Mile) place 1-2 in the OVC Mile. Other top personal bests include Josh Beam (8:27-3k, 14:38-5k, 8:55-Steeple), Zach McPhee (8:28-3k, 14:36-5k), and Spencer Cardinal (8:25-3k, 14:43-5k).

Prior to Little Rock, Pearson served as the Director of Track & Field, Cross Country at Pratt Community College in Pratt, Kansas. During his time with the Beavers, Joel helped lead student-athletes to 32 National Qualifiers, 14 school records, and 22 All-American honors, which were highlighted by a fourth-place national finish in the steeplechase. The Beavers placed 10th, 12th, 14th, and 20th as a team at the National Championships.
 
For over a decade, Pearson worked for several institutions (University of Iowa, Kennesaw State University, Cardinal Stritch University, Meridian Community College, Mountlake Terrace HS) where his athletes achieved a plethora of success, including multiple National Champions and All-Americans at the NJCAA and NAIA level, National Qualifiers, Conference Champions, school records, Drake Relays champion (4 x 800, 7:37.97 PR), NAIA National Record (DMR – 9:46.90), NJCAA National Championship Record (4x800), USATF JO runner-up in Josh Beam (Steeplechase), and Daniel Garcia, multiple-time national champion and national athlete of the year, the most decorated athlete in Cardinal Stritch athletic history. In 2007, at age 21, Joel became one of the youngest head coaches in collegiate history, leading the Whatcom Community College cross country and track and field programs. While with the Orcas, he coached four collegiate cross country All-Americans, two regional champions, an NWAC XC Champion, and was twice named regional coach of the year.
 
In addition, Pearson is a professional coach and the founder of Harrier Track Club. The Harriers have had many athletes qualify for prestigious events under Pearson’s tutelage. Among those are World Track & Field Championships, Pan American Games, U19 Pan American Games, NACAC Championships, U23 NACAC Championships, World RW Team Champs, Pan American RW Cup, World Mountain Champs, World Ultra Championships, and the National Championships / Olympic Trials for USA, Canada, Spain, Bahamas, and El Salvador. Among the record holders he has coached include an American Jr. Record / World Jr. Best in the 50k (Oliver Bear Don’t Walk IV) and an American Record / World Best 50k RW (Katie Burnett). Joel has coached National Record holders in the USA, Bahamas, and El Salvador. 

Pearson is a nationally certified running coach and instructor through USA Track & Field, holding Level 3, IAAF Level V certifications in Endurance & Youth Specialization (world’s highest certificate, both w/ distinction) and Level 2 certifications in Endurance, Sprints/Hurdles, Jumps, C.E. and Youth Specialization. As an instructor, Joel has taught over 70 USATF Level 1 Courses, and 6 USATF Level 2 courses. He was the 2021 recipient of the Vern Gambeta Young Professional National award.
 
Pearson was selected to attend the USATF Emerging Elite Coaches Camp held at the Olympic Training Center and was selected as one of two representatives of USA Track & Field at the NACAC Track & Field Athletics Congress in Nassau, Bahamas. Joel also served as the Team USA Manager for Team USA vs. Canada – Race Walk.

A native of Ferndale, Washington, Pearson graduated from Evergreen with a Bachelor of Arts degree with double majors in history and coaching and earned a master’s degree in sports science from Cardinal Stritch University in Wisconsin.
 
He is the son of former American 50-mile record holder and national champion Jim Pearson.

By the Numbers
- 2x World Best Marks
- 20x National Records
- 23x World / International Qualifiers
- 24x National Champions
- 122x All-Americans 
- 153x National Qualifiers
- 16x Olympic Trials Qualifiers
- 13x Top 25 Collegiate National Team Finishes
- 2x International Medals
- NAIA National Record:   DMR (9:46.90)
- NAIA National Record:   3k RW (13:11.95)