Peru, Neb.- Peru State College Athletics is proud to announce the hiring of Conor Holt as the new head coach for the Bobcats' cross-country program and the College's first-ever distance track coach. Holt brings over two decades of coaching experience at the collegiate and professional levels and has an outstanding track record of building successful programs from the ground up.
 
"I am excited to be on a college campus after nine years away working in the private sector," said Coach Holt. "I see great opportunities here at Peru State College and am looking forward to building a program where winning and success will go hand in hand. I thank the athletic and academic administration for this opportunity."
 
Most recently, Holt managed a successful international online coaching business.  He coached elite athletes to world titles, world records, and national championships, while partnering with performance brands such as Nike, Hoka, Craft, and Lululemon. He was also instrumental in securing more than $3 million in sponsorship deals for his athletes and assisted these companies in developing performance footwear and apparel.
 
Holt's longest tenure was as the Head Men's and Women's Cross Country/Track & Field Coach at Oklahoma City University from 2011 to 2016, where he started both programs from scratch. He led the men's team to three consecutive NAIA Cross Country National Championships (2013, 2014, 2015) and a combined men's and women's cross country national title in 2015. During his time at OCU, Holt coached 70 All-Americans, four individual national champions, and set 31 school records. He was named NAIA Cross Country Coach of the Year three times, developed eight Academic All-Americans, and significantly increased the program's fundraising budget by $100,000.
 
Earlier in his career, Holt held assistant coaching positions at NCAA Division I programs Purdue University and Oregon State University, where his responsibilities included recruiting, meet operations, and athlete development. At Purdue, Holt mentored Big Ten medal winners and NCAA championship qualifiers.
 
As a student-athlete, Holt was a six-time All-American at the University of Oklahoma, a Big 8 Conference Champion in the 10,000m, and a 2004 USA Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier. Originally from Ireland, Holt was a member of the Irish National Team at multiple World Junior Cross Country and Track Championships and the World University Games. He is also a two-time winner and course record holder of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. Holt became a U.S. citizen in 2002.