Jim Akita is entering his 14th year as the head men's cross country coach at Elmhurst College.
In 13 seasons with the Bluejays, Akita has coached 12 all-conference and seven all-region runners. Akita has also coached six national qualifiers and three All-Americans, including Will Cross, Elmhurst first back-to-back All-American in cross country. Â
In 2014, Akita guided the Bluejays to a fifth-place finish at the CCIW Championship. Cross earned first-team all-conference honors at the race before later earning all-region honors. At the NCAA Championships, Cross placed 16th to close out his career with back-to-back All-American finishes.Â
In 2013, Akita led the Bluejays to a sixth-place finish at the CCIW Championship with Cross earning second-team all-conference honors for the second consecutive season. Cross later earned all-region honors before placing 34th at the NCAA Division III Championships to become just the second men's cross country All-American in school history. .
In 2011, the Bluejays finished fifth at the CCIW Championship with Jake Austin earning all-conference and all-region recognition while qualifying for the NCAA Championships. In,2008, he guided Elmhurst to a fifth-place conference finish and coached Pat Austin to all-conference and all-region status while also qualifying for the NCAA Championship.
Akita also serves as the head coach for the men's track and field team. In 11 seasons as the head track and field coach for the Bluejay men, Akita's student-athletes have earned six All-America honors.
Prior to joining the Bluejays as head coach, Akita served as a graduate assistant coach at Rockford College. He also served as an assistant coach at Elmhurst during the 2002 season.
Akita, who completed his bachelor's degree from Elmhurst in 2004, was a stand-out member of the Elmhurst College cross country and track and field teams. He was a two-time captain of both the cross country and track teams and earned eight all-conference honors between the two sports. He was an NCAA Division III national participant during the 2001 and 2003 outdoor track seasons. In 2001, he won the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) 5,000 meters title. A Jack Swartz Academic all-conference selection in 2000, Akita set five school records in track and field.
A graduate of York High School, Akita still resides in Elmhurst.
