Nick Barron joined the Principia College athletics department in the fall of 2018, moving from Boston, Massachusetts with his wife, Bud Arens. The 2023-24 school year marks Barron’s sixth year with Principia College athletics. This year, Coach Barron is serving as the Head Coach for Cross Country and Assistant Coach for Track & Field as well as Associate Athletic Director. This is Barron’s third year leading the Cross Country program. Barron has also served as Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach, Head Track & Field Coach, and Facility and Events Manager during his time at Principia.
Barron attended Bates College in Lewiston, Maine and qualified for multiple NCAA Track & Field Championships, earning All-American honors with a Distance Medley Relay team that placed third at the Indoor Track & Field National Championships in 2012 and placing tenth in the 1500 at the Outdoor T&F National Championships in 2013. Barron was also a four-year starter with the Bates men’s soccer team and began his coaching career in youth soccer. After graduating from Bates College, Barron worked with a renowned non-profit organization called Grassroot Soccer in Kimberley, South Africa from 2013-2014. As a programs coordinator with Grassroot Soccer, Barron discovered the enormous potential that sport has to influence good in the lives of young people and pursued a career in athletics when he returned to the United States. While in South Africa, Barron competed in a half marathon, a full marathon, and the Two Oceans ultra-marathon in Cape Town. Coach Barron continues to train and compete as a USATF Masters athlete.
Coach Barron prioritizes student-athlete well-being in the process of discovering success. The team environment in Cross Country and Track & Field is supportive and safe, while also competitive and challenging. Core values of the program include gratitude, patience, and strength. Coach Barron follows in the footsteps of Coach Robert Baker and Coach Chuck Wilcoxen who each played a significant role in establishing the success that the Principia Track & Field and Cross Country programs are known for.
“I am honored to be serving as a coach and administrator, and I cherish the relationships that we are building. Each day we are taking small steps forward and trusting the process. I feel very blessed to be where I am today and I am so grateful for all of the coaches, mentors, colleagues, athletes, and family that keep me going. Coaching student-athletes is an enormous responsibility that I don’t take lightly. I want to see each one of our athletes find success in their sport, in the classroom, and in life after college. The work that we do in training, in team meetings, and in competition prepares athletes to do good in the world when they graduate from Principia, and that is the most important thing for me as a coach. Our success in competition will be the result of the attitude and effort that we bring to each day. And we’ll have a lot of fun doing it!”
Nick's wife, Bud Arens, teaches Sport Science, Environmental Science, and Biology at Metro Classical and Academic High School in St. Louis. She is also the Head Boys' Soccer Coach and a Head Coach with the Track & Field team.
EDUCATION
BA, Bates College
MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
USATF Ozark, Executive Board (2023-24)
USATF, Level 2 Endurance Certificate (2022)
USTFCCCA Cross Country Specialist certificate (2021)
SCHOLARLY INTERESTS
Literature and Writing
Psychology
Sports Law
Education
AWARDS
United Soccer Coaches 30 under 30 (2019-20)
NCAA All-American (Track & Field, 2012)
Curriculum Vitae
Nick Barron CV
