Kansas State University Athletics
Cross Country
Geopfert, Travis
Travis Geopfert
- Title:
- Director of Track and Field and Cross Country
- Email:
- tgeopfert@kstatesports.com
- Phone:
- (785) 532-7071
Features (click on headline for link)
Travis Geopfert was named K-State's seventh full-time Director of Track and Field/Cross Country by Director of Athletics Gene Taylor on July 11, 2024.
Geopfert was a four-time National Assistant Coach of the Year during two stints at Arkansas across 12 years, with 22 total years of experience also at Tennessee, Northern Iowa and Central Missouri.
At Arkansas with the men's team, he was a part of two NCAA Championship teams (2013 indoor and 2023 indoor), 21 top-10 NCAA team finishes and 25 SEC Championships.
Individually, Geopfert coached three Bowerman Award finalists (track and field’s version of the Heisman Trophy) while at Arkansas, including a pair of winners in sprinter and long jumper Jarrion Lawson (2016) and triple and long jumper Jaydon Hibbert (2023) as well as 2022 finalist Ayden Owens-Delerme. In total, he has helped train 20 national champions (a combined 12 in the long and triple jump) in his career as well as 106 NCAA First Team All-Americans, 182 NCAA National Finals Qualifiers and 89 conference champions.
Geopfert has coached 15 Olympians, including eight who have advanced to this summer’s Paris Games. Those eight Olympians include Romaine Beckford (high jump/Jamaica), Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump/USA), Jaydon Hibbert (triple jump/Jamaica), Jarrion Lawson (long jump/USA), Carey McLeod (long jump/Jamaica), Jah-Nhai Perinchief (triple jump/Bermuda), Ayden Owens-Delerme (decathlon/Puerto Rico) and Wayne Pinnock (long jump/Jamaica).
In total, Geopfert’s athletes have qualified for the World Championships 30 times with five global medals. They have broken three American Junior records, three World Junior records, two NCAA all-time collegiate records and two NCAA meet records. They have combined to break 59 school records at Northern Iowa, Arkansas and Tennessee.
“My family and I are thrilled to become part of the Kansas State community,” Geopfert said. “Just look at every named facility on campus and it’s obvious that family and community are the framework of Kansas State. That may be the biggest thing that attracted us to Manhattan.
“I’d like to thank Gene Taylor, (executive associate AD) Kenny Lannou and (deputy AD) Jill Shields for giving me this opportunity to lead such a storied program - a program with multiple Olympians, Olympic medalists and NCAA champions, led for more than three decades by hall of fame coach Cliff Rovelto.
“It’s not lost on me the shoes that I’m trying to fill in following a legendary coach. Coach Rovelto has built a foundation at Kansas State that makes this one of the most attractive opportunities in NCAA track and field. With that, I promise to work tirelessly for the alumni and current student-athletes here at Kansas State. I want to help make all of these individuals proud of where they are from. They built the foundation for our future success, and we owe it to them and this administration to get after it here with everything we’ve got.
“With that said, I cannot express enough appreciation to Gene Taylor for handing me the reigns here in Manhattan. His reputation precedes him in making great coaching hires. I’m humbled that he believes in me to continue to move this program forward.
“Lastly, I’d like to thank my former student-athletes, bosses and colleagues at Central Missouri, Northern Iowa, Tennessee, and Arkansas. The last 22 years learning from all of them has given me the foundation I need to coach and mentor at the highest level. These coaching experiences along with the amazing support of my wife Nicole, our kids and my entire family gives me the confidence I need to be the next Director of Track and Field / Cross Country at K-State.”
Coaching Experience
Coaching Honors
Athlete Honors
Education
Personal
- Family Atmosphere Attracted Geopfert to K-State (K-State Sports Extra, July 16, 2024)
Travis Geopfert was named K-State's seventh full-time Director of Track and Field/Cross Country by Director of Athletics Gene Taylor on July 11, 2024.
Geopfert was a four-time National Assistant Coach of the Year during two stints at Arkansas across 12 years, with 22 total years of experience also at Tennessee, Northern Iowa and Central Missouri.
At Arkansas with the men's team, he was a part of two NCAA Championship teams (2013 indoor and 2023 indoor), 21 top-10 NCAA team finishes and 25 SEC Championships.
Individually, Geopfert coached three Bowerman Award finalists (track and field’s version of the Heisman Trophy) while at Arkansas, including a pair of winners in sprinter and long jumper Jarrion Lawson (2016) and triple and long jumper Jaydon Hibbert (2023) as well as 2022 finalist Ayden Owens-Delerme. In total, he has helped train 20 national champions (a combined 12 in the long and triple jump) in his career as well as 106 NCAA First Team All-Americans, 182 NCAA National Finals Qualifiers and 89 conference champions.
Geopfert has coached 15 Olympians, including eight who have advanced to this summer’s Paris Games. Those eight Olympians include Romaine Beckford (high jump/Jamaica), Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump/USA), Jaydon Hibbert (triple jump/Jamaica), Jarrion Lawson (long jump/USA), Carey McLeod (long jump/Jamaica), Jah-Nhai Perinchief (triple jump/Bermuda), Ayden Owens-Delerme (decathlon/Puerto Rico) and Wayne Pinnock (long jump/Jamaica).
In total, Geopfert’s athletes have qualified for the World Championships 30 times with five global medals. They have broken three American Junior records, three World Junior records, two NCAA all-time collegiate records and two NCAA meet records. They have combined to break 59 school records at Northern Iowa, Arkansas and Tennessee.
“My family and I are thrilled to become part of the Kansas State community,” Geopfert said. “Just look at every named facility on campus and it’s obvious that family and community are the framework of Kansas State. That may be the biggest thing that attracted us to Manhattan.
“I’d like to thank Gene Taylor, (executive associate AD) Kenny Lannou and (deputy AD) Jill Shields for giving me this opportunity to lead such a storied program - a program with multiple Olympians, Olympic medalists and NCAA champions, led for more than three decades by hall of fame coach Cliff Rovelto.
“It’s not lost on me the shoes that I’m trying to fill in following a legendary coach. Coach Rovelto has built a foundation at Kansas State that makes this one of the most attractive opportunities in NCAA track and field. With that, I promise to work tirelessly for the alumni and current student-athletes here at Kansas State. I want to help make all of these individuals proud of where they are from. They built the foundation for our future success, and we owe it to them and this administration to get after it here with everything we’ve got.
“With that said, I cannot express enough appreciation to Gene Taylor for handing me the reigns here in Manhattan. His reputation precedes him in making great coaching hires. I’m humbled that he believes in me to continue to move this program forward.
“Lastly, I’d like to thank my former student-athletes, bosses and colleagues at Central Missouri, Northern Iowa, Tennessee, and Arkansas. The last 22 years learning from all of them has given me the foundation I need to coach and mentor at the highest level. These coaching experiences along with the amazing support of my wife Nicole, our kids and my entire family gives me the confidence I need to be the next Director of Track and Field / Cross Country at K-State.”
Coaching Experience
- Graduate assistant (Men’s and Women’s), Central Missouri (2002-03)
- Assistant Track and Field Coach (Men’s and Women’s), Northern Iowa (2003-07)
- Associate Head Track and Field Coach (Men’s and Women’s), Northern Iowa (2007-08)
- Head Track and Field Coach (Men’s and Women’s), Northern Iowa (2008-09)
- Assistant Track and Field Coach (Men’s), Arkansas (2009-18)
- Associate Head Track and Field Coach (Men’s and Women’s), Tennessee (2018-21)
- Associate Head Track and Field Coach (Men), Arkansas (2021-24)
- Director of Cross Country and Track and Field, Kansas State (2024-present)
Coaching Honors
- 4-time USTFCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year (Arkansas)
- 5-time USTFCCA South Central Region Men’s Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year (Arkansas)
- 2-time USTFCCA South Central Region Men’s Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year (Arkansas)
- 1-time USTFCCA South Region Men’s Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year (Tennessee) (2020)
- 2-time USTFCCA Midwest Region Men’s Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year (Northern Iowa)
- 1-time USTFCAA Division II Central Region Men’s Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year (Central Missouri) (2003)
- 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Coach of the Year (Northern Iowa)
- 3-time USA vs. Germany Thorpe Cup decathlon head coach
Athlete Honors
- 1998 Missouri Valley Conference decathlon champion
- 1999 Missouri Valley Conference 4x100-meter relay champion
- 2000 Missouri Valley Conference indoor distance medley relay champion
- 2000 NCAA Indoor All-American (distance medley relay)
- 4-time All-Missouri Valley Conference performer (1997, 1998 indoor and outdoor)
- 2-time Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete (1999, 2000)
- 2004, 2006 Drake Relay decathlon champion
- 5-time national qualifier at the USATF Indoor and Outdoor Championships
- 2004 Olympic Trials qualifier
- 3-time member of the U.S. vs. Germany decathlon Thorpe Teams (2003, 2005, 2006)
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in general studies, University of Northern Iowa, 2002
Personal
- Born: August 20, 1978, in Panora, Iowa
- Wife: Nicole
- Children: sons Jones and Jax and daughter Ellyn
K-State Track and Field | Coach Geopfert Post Meet Comments - NCAA Championships / Women's Finals
Monday, June 16
K-State Track and Field | Coach Geopfert Post Meet Comments - NCAA Championships / Men's Finals
Saturday, June 14
K-State Track and Field | Big 12 Outdoor Championships
Wednesday, May 21
K-State Track and Field | Coach Geopfert Post Meet Comments - Big 12 Day 3
Monday, May 19
