Sam Krieg earned his undergraduate degree from Hanover College in 1998 and his Master’s degree in Athletic Administration from Idaho State University in 2025, where a large part of his focus was on endurance sports and coaching the distance runners at ISU. After decades of running at Davis Field, he can now officially say he is proud to be an official part of the Bengal team.

Krieg is starting his third year as an Assistant Cross Country and Track Coach after more than a decade of involvement with the program. He has had the honor of working alongside longtime coach Brian Janssen, as well as Nate Houle and Zach Kughn, and is excited to be supporting Head Cross Country Coach Sean-Patrick Oswald in his inaugural year with the Bengals.

On a personal note, Krieg’s passion for running was ignited in high school with his second-place finish in the Mile at the Drake Relays.  Krieg has been involved in endurance sport and coaching ever since. With a strong background in rock climbing, cycling, cross-country skiing, and running, he has trained and coached for the past 25 years. Professionally, he continues to consult for Peaks Coaching Group based in Bedford, Virginia, working with a wide variety of athletes ranging from junior athletes to masters national cycling champions. His coaching philosophy centers on a holistic approach to training that supports balancing high performance with life quality among athletes.