UPIKE Athletics

Anthony Kowalczyk was selected to lead the University of Pikeville cross country and track and field programs as director and head coach in August 2025. In his first season at UPIKE, Kowalczyk helped guide the programs to 34 school records, 8 All-AAC performances, 4 AAC Champions, and 3 national-qualifying appearances. 

His first season also produced a historic accomplishment, as Carlie Osborne became the first female athlete in UPIKE history to win an AAC Individual Championship, capturing the 600m title at the Indoor AAC Championships. Off the track, the programs completed more than 1,100 hours of community service, earning The Bill Baird Community Service Award at the UPIKE Bear Awards which presented to the team or individual that exemplifies a great desire, commitment, and track record of service in the community. The Men’s Track & Field and Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field programs also earned All-Academic honors for the 2025–26 season.

Kowalczyk came to UPIKE with nearly 10 years of collegiate coaching experience, including six years at his alma mater, Saint Xavier University in Chicago. He began coaching at SXU in 2018 as a student coach and graduate assistant for football and track and field before becoming an assistant cross country/track and field coach and recruiting coordinator in 2020.

At Saint Xavier, Kowalczyk took the lead in recruiting and primarily worked with the throws while also assisting with multis and cross country. He recruited more than 150 athletes, including 30 national qualifiers, one national champion, eight All-Americans, 30 school record holders, and more than 70 All-CCAC honorees. His athletes broke every throws-related school record at SXU since 2023, highlighted by coaching 2025 NAIA Discus National Champion Ayobami Arokoyo, who was also named the CCAC Most Outstanding Outdoor Field Athlete three consecutive years.

Prior to Saint Xavier, Kowalczyk spent 18 months as an assistant track and field coach at Steinmetz College Prep in Chicago.

As an undergraduate at Saint Xavier, Kowalczyk was a two-sport athlete in football and track and field, serving as a captain of both teams in 2018 and earning All-Conference honors as a thrower in both indoor and outdoor track and field. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with concentrations in management and marketing, as well as a Master of Business Administration in digital marketing, from SXU.

An NAIA Scholar-Athlete in both sports and Academic All-American, Kowalczyk has carried his commitment to academic success into his coaching career, with team GPAs remaining above 3.1 since 2020 and USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors earned each season.

Raised in Chicago, Illinois , Kowalczyk now resides in Pikeville with his Wife, Yasmine, and their dog, Tito.