BACK-TO-BACK GLORY: COACH DOM BOLIN LEADS YOTES TO SECOND NATIONAL TITLE
ARTICLE CONTRIBUTIONS BY SARAH FAJER, DIRECTOR OF SPORTS COMMUNICATION
The College of Idaho men’s cross country team entered the NAIA National Championships in Columbia, Missouri, with the pressure of a No. 1 national ranking and the weight of high expectations. By the 6-kilometer mark, they found themselves trailing by 20 points. But what followed was a display of discipline and resilience that showcased exactly why they earned that top spot. Daniel Butler led the charge for the Yotes, placing sixth overall, with teammates Hayden Bostrom and Elias Everist not far behind in 11th and 13th. Their consistency kept the team in contention, but it was the clutch performances from Brevin Vaughan and Oclan Ryan, finishing 27th and 48th respectively, that sealed the victory. With 87 points, the Yotes edged out their competition and claimed the first men’s cross country national title in program history. Behind this achievement is head coach Dom Bolin, who has quickly become a cornerstone of success at The College of Idaho. A 2013 alumnus, Bolin is just three years into his head coaching career. After guiding the women’s team to a national title in 2023, he returned this fall to bring home a second championship, this time with the men. His leadership has not gone unnoticed. Bolin was named NAIA National Coach of the Year and USTFCCCA National Coach of the Year. He also swept regional and conference awards, earning West Region and Cascade Conference Coach of the Year honors for both the men’s and women’s programs. His ability to elevate both teams simultaneously places him among the elite in collegiate coaching. While the men stood atop the podium, the women’s team quietly secured a seventh-place national finish, a remarkable achievement after graduating four of their top five runners. Kahea Figueira led the way with an 11th-place finish to cap her All-American season. Both programs swept Cascade Collegiate Conference team titles earlier in the fall, with Butler and Figueira each claiming individual championships. Together, the teams dominated weekly honors and built a culture of consistent excellence. For Bolin, it’s not just about winning. It’s about building a legacy. And after two national titles in as many years, the Yotes have made it clear, they are here to stay at the top.