Joel Pearson enters his first season as head cross country and assistant track & field coach for North Carolina A&T. He joins the Aggies after working as director of track and field operations at the University of Iowa.

Prior to Iowa he worked as an assistant cross country and track and field coach and recruiting coordinator at IPFW, a Division I institution in Fort Wayne, Ind. Pearson also served as the head cross country and track and field coach for Whatcom Community College in Washington for two years starting in 2007. There, he coached four collegiate cross country All-Americans and one conference champion. In addition, Pearson coaches the Harrier Track Club which produced two Olympic Trials qualifiers, three National Junior qualifiers, two state high school champions, a World Junior Mountain qualifier and an American Junior record holder.

In his career, Pearson has coached numerous All-Americans, including eight USATF All-Americans, five Community College All-Americans and two National Junior Olympic All-Americans in cross country.

In addition, many athletes have qualified for prestigious events under Pearson's tutelage. Among those are a Canadian Olympic Trials qualifier (3k), a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier (10k), a Canadian Track and Field National qualifier (1,500m/5k), a World Junior Mountain qualifier and three USA Junior National qualifiers (3k, 5k, 10k). He also coached 24 National Junior Olympic qualifiers in cross country. Among the record holders he has coached includes an American Junior record in the 50k and an El Salvador National Junior record in the 800 meters. He is a two-time Community College Regional Coach of the Year, who has coached two Community College Academic All-Americans.

Pearson, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with double majors in history and coaching from Evergreen State in Olympia, Wash., is currently finishing his master's degree in sports science from the United States Sports Academy. Pearson holds USATF Level 2 Certifications in endurance and combined events and is a USATF Level 1 Certified Instructor.

He is the son of former American 50-mile record holder and national champion Jim Pearson.