SEATTLE (Oct. 3) ­ Karl Lerum, a former assistant coach and past All-American in the decathlon, has been named Seattle Pacific University's new head coach of men's and women's track and field, athletic director Tom Box announced Monday.

Lerum succeeds Jack Hoyt, who resigned in August after six seasons. Lerum becomes just the fifth coach in the SPU program's 55-year existence and begins his duties immediately.

This is the first head coaching position for Lerum after four seasons as an assistant, including two at Trinity College, a competitive NCAA Division III program Hartford, from 2000-02. He served under Hoyt at SPU during the 2000 season and again in 2003.

"We were fortunate to have an exceptionally strong pool of candidates," said Box. "Karl was selected for his commitment to Seattle Pacific's Christian distinctives, his broad knowledge of multi-event coaching and his high level or energy and vision for the SPU track and field program."

"Seattle Pacific is poised for some great things this coming season," said Lerum. "I'm inheriting a program which is at a high point. I consider it quite an honor and yet quite a responsibility."

Seattle Pacific finished 8th in both the NCAA Division II women's indoor and outdoor championships earlier this year. The Falcons have won two consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference indoor titles and finished second outdoors. The Falcons will return four All-Americans, including NCAA decathlon champion Chris Randolph, javelin thrower Lauren VerMulm, pole vaulter Amy Harris and heptathlete Kelsey Cooley.

Lerum was a four-time All-American from 1995-98 at Pacific Lutheran. He finished second in the NAIA decathlon in 1997 and '98 and third in '96.

The PLU record-holder in the 400 meters, Lerum also ranks No. 2 in the decathlon and among the top 10 in the 110 hurdles, long jump, 100 and javelin. He still holds the Lutes football career records for receptions and receiving yardage.

"Jack, Doris (Heritage, the current head coach of cross country and assistant track coach) and Dr. (Ken) Foreman have built this amazing national program, filled with student-athletes committed to pursuing excellence," said Lerum, "and I'm honored to be chosen to help lead this program forward. The freshmen I worked with (in 2002) are now seniors. It's exciting to see what progress they have made and I want to help them finish off next season on a high note."

Randolph became the Falcons' 29th national champion last season, and the program has produced nearly 200 All-Americans.

"Coach Lerum joins some illustrious company and we feel the successful legacy of our program will be in good hands," added Box. "Karl earned a great reputation among our athletes and staff during his time as a part-time assistant, and is a capable teacher and role model.

During his gridiron days, Lerum played on the NAIA national runners-up under Frosty Westering in 1994, was a member of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1998 and '99 preseasons, and also NFL Europe's Amsterdam Admirals. From 2003-04 he was head coach of Norway's Oslo Vikings football program.

A native of Tacoma and graduate of Franklin Pierce High School, Lerum earned his bachelor's degree in history from PLU in '98 and a master's in history from Trinity in 2002. He and his wife Yvonne live on Queen Anne Hill, near the SPU campus.