Capital University

Luke Malone is entering his first year as a Graduate Assistant Coach for Capital Cross Country and Track & Field in the 2025-26 academic year. Malone will primarily work with distance events while also aiding the program in other areas. He is also pursuing his Masters of Business Administration at Capital. 

Malone is a native of Plain City, Ohio where he attended Jonathan Alder High School before he went on to compete at the Division I level at the University of Illinois Chicago. There, he graduated with a degree in Industrial Design in the spring of 2025. 

As a student-athlete at UIC, Malone was an accomplished runner and leader among his peers. Malone left UIC holding the second best 8,000-meter cross country time in school history (24:11), while also setting top marks in the 5,000-meter (14:38), 3,000-meter (8:23) and 1,500-meter (3:57). Additionally, he served as a team captain. 

Malone was heavily involved in SAAC at both UIC and the Missouri Valley Conference. At UIC, he served as Community Service Chair, Vice President, and ultimately President helping lead initiatives on campus and in the community. With the MVC, he served on the Life After The Game subcommittee. 

In addition to his SAAC involvement, Malone served on UIC's Chancellor's Athletic Advisory Committee, UIC's Director of Athletics Search Committee and the Illinois Athletic/Academic Strive Scholarship Committee. 

Malone has been the recipient of multiple awards throughout his collegiate career including the 2025 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, UIC's Chancellor's Student Service Award, UIC Flames "Fire-Up" Award, MVC State Farm Good Neighbor Award, MVC State Farm Scholar Athlete Spotlight and the UIC "Best in Research/Strategy" Award. Additionally, he attended the 2024 NCAA  Student-Athlete Leadership Forum.