Aaron Iaun joined the CSU Coaching staff as the women's cross country coach and an assistant track coach in 2016.
Iaun has led the Charleston Southern women's cross country team to back-to-back top-3 finishes at the Big South Cross Country Championships in the 2018 and 2019 seasons along with 6 All-Conference athletes over the last three seasons. The top-3 finishes for the Bucs in 2018 and 2019 tied a program record for best result at the Big South Championships in program history.
In distance events for the track & field team, Iaun saw 18 new top-10 marks in program history headlined by Taylor Barnes clocking the second-fastest times in the Outdoor 5K and 10K and Indoor 3K while Bethany Thornhill posted the second-fastest Outdoor 3K time. Barnes was named the Outdoor Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2021 after placing 4th at the 2020-21 Cross Country Championships.
His efforts working with the distance runners during his time at CSU have included a trio of All-Conference performers, the men's cross country team advancing to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 1994, as well as Fearghal Curtin advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Track Regionals in his freshman season.
Paced by fresh youth and enthusiasm, the Buccaneers' men's cross country team reached new heights in 2017 that culminated in CSU advancing to the NCAA Regionals. CSU finished third in the Big South men's cross country championships paced by All-Conference performers Jeryck Wilson and Fearghal Curtin. It was the highest finish for the team since the 1994 season and led to a 21st place result at the NCAA Southeast Regional meet. The women's program also saw two athletes advance to the NCAA Regionals with Georgina Russell (All-Conference) and Taylor Barnes both representing the CSU Blue and Gold after finishing seventh in the conference championships.
The 2018 season saw the Bucs' continual growth on display once again as the men's cross country squad placed second in the Big South Championships and the women's team placed third - both matching previous school records for conference finishes.
The young Buccaneers' men's cross country team made strides in the 2016 season that culminated in a 10th place result at the Big South Championships. The women's side also battled through youth in the first season with CSU finishing ninth at the conference championships.
During his first two years at CSU, Iaun has been assisting Jim Stintzi, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, in developing the distance program at Charleston Southern. Iaun supported Stintzi in taking the men’s cross country team from a last-place Big South finish in 2016, to a 3rd place finish in 2017. The top 3 finish was the highest Conference finish for the men’s cross country team since 1994.
In addition, Iaun coached Georgina Russell to a Big South All-Conference finish at the 2017 Big South Cross Country Championships.
Prior to joining the staff at CSU, Iaun spent two years at Northern Arizona University, working as a graduate assistant coach with the cross country and track programs. He was a part of 11 Big Sky Conference Championships and two NCAA Cross Country podium finishes for the Lumberjacks.
Prior to NAU, Iaun was a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Iowa from 2012-13, and worked with the Hawkeyes men’s distance runners.
Iaun competed in cross country and track at Eastern Illinois University and was a part of four Ohio Valley Conference Championships with the Panthers. He served as a team captain in 2010.
Iaun earned his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University in 2015, and his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Eastern Illinois University in 2011.
Iaun is a USATF Level I certified coach.
