An Iowa Lakes Community College graduate has been named the new head cross country coach at Iowa Lakes Community College.

Molly Duitsman Struve will begin her duties July 1.

"We are very excited about adding Molly to our staff," said Troy Larson, Athletics Director at Iowa Lakes.  "As a recent student-athlete, Molly understands both Iowa Lakes, and the sport of cross country.  She is well respected in the area and will bring in quality student-athletes to our program."

As a 2002 graduate of Estherville Lincoln Central High School, Struve is no stranger to the area. She ran track and cross country for the Midgettes from 1998-2002, and was a state participant, 

Molly Duitsman Struve

While she was a student at Iowa Lakes, Struve was an active member of the student senate, serving as the secretary/treasurer. She was also an accomplished runner; running for the very first Iowa Lakes cross country team, which had its opening season in 2003. As a student-athlete at Iowa Lakes, Struve participated at the National Cross Country Meet.

After graduating from Iowa Lakes, she continued her education at the University of Northern Iowa, where she received her degree in health education.

"To be coaching at my alma mater, and to be a part of the Iowa Lakes Community College cross country team again is a great opportunity for me," says Struve. "I am looking forward to building up both the women’s and men’s teams and getting them to the level where they can compete with other college athletes."

Struve replaces Mike Nichols, who has been the cross country coach since Iowa Lakes began offering cross country in the fall of 2003. Nichols will remain at the college as a Professor of Spanish.

To find out more information on athletics at Iowa Lakes, visit www.iowalakes.edu and click on ‘athletics’ in the left menu bar.