Llerena Announced as New Cleary Cross Country and Track & Field Head Coach

(Howell, MI)-- Serafin Llerena has been named the new head men’s and women’s cross country and track & field coach at Cleary University.

“Serafin brings a passion and enthusiasm for coaching, recruiting, and running to our athletic department,” says Cleary University Athletic Director Max Ballinger.  “We are confident that those characteristics will help our current student-athletes develop and grow, and attract new student-athletes to our cross country and track programs.  We look forward to seeing both programs grow in the coming seasons.”

Llerena is humbled and honored to lead the Cougars cross country and track teams.  “I would like to thank Athletic Director Max Ballinger, and (Senior VP of Campus Operations) Heather Bateman for this incredible opportunity.  I believe that Cleary University and the athletic department are growing, and to be trusted with the continued development of both the men’s and women’s programs is a tremendous responsibility that I am extremely grateful for.”

Llerena, a Bangor, Michigan native, has spent the past five years as the head men’s and women’s cross country coach for Jackson College (2018-2023), as well as the head boy’s and girl’s track and cross country coach for Jackson Preparatory and Early College from 2017-2022.

“Our teams are going to be hard workers, and we’ll hopefully be able to achieve our season goals.  Whether that is improving their times or throws, finishing their careers on positive notes, or being named academic all-conference and all-americans, we want to set goals with high standards, and then do what we can to meet those goals.  That takes work, time, dedication on the trail or track, and in the classroom.  If we can achieve these goals while also creating a family atmosphere, then we will be successful.”

Llerena graduated from Olivet College with a bachelor’s degree in sports and fitness management in 2011.  At Olivet, he ran cross country and track for four years, and was named team captain his junior and senior years.  He will be graduating in December 2023 with a master’s degree in sports coaching from Western Michigan University.  He has been the athletic director and dean of students at Jackson Prep since 2014.  

Llerena will get started immediately with the outdoor track & field season set to begin next week.