Illinois State Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jeff Bovee announced the hiring of Jake Shaver as assistant track and field and cross country coach .
"I am thrilled to add Jake Shaver to our staff as assistant coach for track and field and cross country," Bovee said. "Jake will be working closely with me in cross country and with the middle-distance and distance events in track and will be heavily involved in recruiting for the entire program and especially in the distance events. Jake has a wonderful background having served as an assistant coach and a head coach and is able to see the big picture of a cross country and track and field program. As a volunteer coach this year, he impressed me in his innate ability to see a need and to step to the plate to fill that need. His work ethic is phenomenal and his ability to relate to others is top notch."
Shaver is a Bloomington-Normal native and graduated from University High School. He has eight years of coaching experience at the Division III level, including two years as head coach and director of track and field at Millikin University. Shaver has served as a volunteer assistant coach for the cross country and track and field teams at Illinois State (2014), after spending the previous year as the Director of Track and Field and Cross Country at Millikin University (2013-14). Prior to Millikin, Shaver was the head coach of the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams at Fontbonne University (2012-13). He was also the assistant coach at Aurora University (2011-12) and the University of Chicago (2006-10).
"I am very excited to have the opportunity to join the Illinois State cross country and track and field staff," Shaver said. "I am thrilled to be a Redbird and look forward to working to execute Coach Bovee's vision alongside a very talented, hardworking group of coaches."
During Shaver's time at Millikin, he served as director of men's and women's cross country and field, and overseing all aspects of the programs. In 2013, Shaver coached a student-athlete that competed at the 2013 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships; the last time Millikin had an athlete compete in the championships was in 1982. In addition, Shaver had one athlete receive All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) First-Team honors, and one who received second-team accolades.
"His role on our staff is critical, as it allows me to better oversee the entire program as the head coach, but also to have another set of eyes and ears on the distance runners, as this event area has always been and will continue to be a cornerstone to our overall team success," Bovee continued. "With the addition of Jake, we now have all of the pieces of our staff in place and are ready to position ourselves with the top programs in the Missouri Valley Conference and to make a much bigger impact at the national level. I appreciate Leanna Bordner, Larry Lyons, and the entire administration for their support in helping to build a championship program."
Shaver attended Augustana College where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and psychology. Shaver participated in the Chicago Teaching Fellows, where he earned an Urban Teacher Certification. He received his masters in teaching (M.A.T.) at National-Louis University in Chicago.
Shaver also held a position as a Midwest Regional Representative in the executive board for the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
