ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Bethel University head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach Joe Stephens has announced his resignation after seven seasons with the Royals. Stephens accepted the role of Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at South Dakota Mines, a NCAA Division II institution in Rapid City, South Dakota.
 
"I want to thank Bob Bjorklund, Greg Peterson, Andrew Rock, and Bethel University for granting me the opportunity nearly seven years ago to be the head cross country and assistant track and field coach," said Stephens. "I am very thankful to have grown as a person, coach, and even found my wife in my time here. It is with excitement for new challenges, but definitely a sense of sadness as I leave co-workers, friends, and a team of amazing young people at Bethel."
 
Under Stephens the Royals cross country program has had major program highlights with the most recent coming on the men's side in 2018 where they had a fourth-place finish at the MIAC Championships which was their best since 2012. That same season the men had their best finish ever at the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational where four runners placed in the top 10 as the Royals finished second as a team.
 
On the women's side the team placed fourth at the 2021 MIAC Championships which was the best finish for the program in 12 years. This comes after a fifth-place finish at the 2017 MIAC Championships. 

Individually there have been a combined eight All-MIAC performances and five combined honorable mention all-conference runs. One of the best runners in Bethel history came under the direction of Stephens in Annika Halverson. She was a two-time All-American, nine-time All-Conference and five-time All-Region finisher with five NCAA Championship appearances. Matt Berens earned All-American honors in 2015 following a ninth-place finish at the national meet.
 
On the track, he has seen three national qualifiers in distance events. Mollie Gillberg's indoor 5000-meter program record performance of 17:25.58 from 2016 still stands to this day which qualified her for nationals where she finished 11th.
 
"I wish Joe the best as he sets out on this new challenge at South Dakota School of Mines. In his seven years at Bethel, Joe has positively impacted our department and brought a renewed commitment to the men's and women's cross country programs," said Director of Athletics Greg Peterson. "He has been completely invested in the mission of Bethel University and I'm thankful for the impact he has had on the student-athletes he has coached."