Faulkner University

Caleb Kilpatrick enters his second season as head coach of Faulkner Cross Country.

Kilpatrick oversaw a decorated first full-time season in the program. The year was highlighted by Chloe Helms earning the top individual finish in the SSAC Championships in program history, finishing in sixth place with a time of 22:48.7 to become the first Faulkner harrier since the program's rebirth in 2022 to make the NAIA National Championship field. In Kilpatrick's first season in charge, Helms and Avery Rogers set six of the top 10 all-distance paces and highest finish percentages in women's program history, eight of the top 10 6K times and four of the top 10 5K times. The duo owns those categories as they provided the remaining such top 10 times as freshmen in 2024 and now hold the top four SSAC Championship paces, finishes and finish percentages in program history.

In one season leading the men's side, the Eagles set eight of the top 10 all-distance finish percentages, seven of the top 10 all-distance paces, nine of the top 10 8K individual times, the top eight 8K finish percentages, and four of the top 10 5K individual finish times and percentages, with those records all being held by David Robles, Brodie Moore, Cole Charles and Creed Spivey. In 2025, that group of runners earned four of the top five SSAC Championship individual times, finishes and finish percentages. In 2024-25, those four, in combination with Cam Waters and Carson Roberson, owns nine of the top 10 SSAC times and finish percentages and seven of the top 10 individual finishes. In one season, Robles owns six of the top eight all-distance paces, six of the top eight finish percentages, the top five 8K individual times and five of the top six 8K finish percentages. 

His promotion came after he served as a volunteer assistant for the programs under Reed Sutton in 2024-25, a campaign that saw program records fall like dominoes. Freshmen Moore and Helms set individual program records seven times in four meets apiece for the men and women. The Eagles and Lady Eagles broke the program record for 1-5 average time at the season-opening Jacksonville State Foothills Invitational. The teams also set new records for team averages in the 5k in the Dalton State Nooga at Night Invite and in the men's 8k and women's 6k at the SSAC Cross Country Championships. A total of 27 personal records were reached, with at least six occurring at each meet.

Kilpatrick is a 2001 graduate of Alabama Christian Academy where he ran track, and later earned his degree in Criminal Justice at Faulkner. For seven seasons, he was an assistant coach for track and cross country at ACA while his assistant coach at Faulkner, Michael Britton, was the head coach. He has run ultra-marathon races from 50k to 100k in addition to 24-hour races, in which he broke the then-state record for his age group with 87 miles. He has also helped to run the Olympic torch across Alabama for the Special Olympics, which he actively supports. 

"I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to serve Faulkner University, the cross country team as a whole, and each individual athlete in a coaching capacity," said Kilpatrick. "Like the parable of the sower, this will take determining the seeds we want to plant, being sure we plant them in the right soil and then working daily to be sure we nurture the seeds in order to get the best out of our crops. It is my prayer that with faith, follow-through, and focus the cross country program will continue in a positive direction. I'm looking forward to moving this team, with Coach Britton by my side, in a direction that is not only beneficial to the team and Faulkner but, more importantly, beneficial to God's kingdom. Have a blessed day, and go Eagles!"

Kilpatrick married the former Jennilee Yates in August 2024 and they share three children: Lane, Baker and Annie. Lane runs for the men's program.