Kyle Basista, an eight-time USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year at John Carroll University, joined Yale as the Bulldogs’ head coach of men's cross country, assistant coach of men's track and field in August of 2024.
In Basista's first season as Yale cross country coach, the Bulldogs placed fifth at NCAA Regionals (their best finish in 20 years at that event) and had three all-region honorees. They also earned the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award and had three runners honored individually as USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes. In indoor track and field, the Bulldogs' distance squad broke three school records and earned the Ivy League championship in the DMR at indoor Heps. Outdoors, the distance squad broke a pair of school records. Three distance runners competed at the NCAA East First Round meet.
During his 15 years at John Carroll (10 as a head coach following five as an assistant coach), Basista helped elevate the program to new heights. That included program-best finishes at the NCAA Division III Championships for the men’s outdoor (second in 2022) and indoor (fifth in 2024) track and field teams, and the first NCAA Division III Championship appearances in program history for men’s and women’s cross country (in 2019). The men’s cross country team placed fourth at the national championships twice in the last three years under Basista. His cross country teams combined for five NCAA Division III Regional Championships – three for the men and two for the women – after never having won any prior to his arrival.
John Carroll emerged as a cross country powerhouse in the Ohio Athletic Conference under Basista’s leadership, with the women winning the last four conference championships and the men winning the last three – including the first OAC championship in program history (2021). JCU also developed into one of the top track and field programs in the OAC with Basista leading the way. The men placed second indoors and outdoors for each of the last four years, while the women won the first indoor championship in program history (2021) and the first outdoor championship in program history (2019).
Basista was the USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Head Coach of the Year for men’s cross country three times (2021, 2022, 2023), women’s cross country twice (2019, 2022), men’s outdoor track and field twice (2021, 2022) and women’s outdoor track and field once (2019). Under his leadership JCU earned OAC Coaching Staff of the Year six times in women’s cross country, four times in men’s cross country and four times in track and field.
Basista also coached numerous individuals to noteworthy achievements. In cross country that included two national champions (including a championship record-setter), six All-Americans, 11 national qualifiers and 57 all-region honorees. In track and field that included eight national champions, 76 All-Americans, 111 national qualifiers, 226 all-region honorees and 124 conference champions. He coached national record-breakers in the men’s indoor 3k, men’s outdoor 5k, men’s outdoor 5k, men’s outdoor 10k, men’s outdoor long jump and the men’s distance medley relay (which broke the national record in 2022).
Basista’s student-athletes also excelled in the classroom, with 49 earning national recognition as All-Academic Athletes and 151 earning academic all-conference. His cross country and track and field teams earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors each year that he was head coach.
Basista was named head coach for John Carroll in June of 2014 after serving first as a graduate assistant (2009-2011) and then as the top assistant (2011-14). He received multiple honors during his time as an assistant and later associate head coach. In 2013, the women's cross country staff was named staff of the year by the OAC as JCU won its first conference championship since 1991. The staff had earned women’s cross country staff of the year in 2009 as well. The men's cross country staff was selected as OAC Co-Coaching Staff of the Year in 2011.
Prior to arriving at JCU in the fall of 2009, Basista was the assistant cross country and track and field coach at his alma mater, University of Mount Union (2008-09), where the Raider men were the OAC Cross Country runners-up and achieved a national berth. In outdoor track, he guided Ty Griffin to a D III National Championship in the 1500 meter run.
Basista earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management from Mount Union in 2008. He was a two-time Division III All-American and five-time OAC Champion, along with being part of a record-setting distance medley relay team.
