Nick Maas was named the Director of Cross Country and Track & Field in July of 2019.
Under his guidance, Parkside’s programs have rewritten record books, achieved historic milestones, and emerged as contenders in the GLIAC and on the national stage. Maas’ coaching career, rooted in a passion for developing student-athletes, has brought significant success to Parkside, particularly during the 2023-24 school year, which was one of the program’s most successful years to date.
The 2023-24 season marked a high point in Maas’ tenure. Under his direction, Parkside set new benchmarks across both the men’s and women’s teams. Rachel Blaskowski delivered standout performances, qualifying for both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, securing All-American honors with a sixth-place finish in the long jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Blaskowski went on to place 17th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, marking a successful national campaign. She and Grace Mildice were both named All-Region athletes. The women’s team also enjoyed unprecedented success at the GLIAC Championships, scoring a program-record 63.5 points at the GLIAC Indoor Meet and 69 points at the GLIAC Outdoor Meet—the most points ever earned by a women’s team under Maas.
The 2022-23 season further solidified Maas’ impact on the program. In cross country, Katja Baeuerle qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Baeuerle also earned All-Region honors.
In track & field, Blaskowski and Baeuerle qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, continuing their rise as elite athletes. Blaskowski also earned a spot at the NCAA Indoor Championships. At the GLIAC Outdoor Championships, Parkside’s women recorded their highest point total at a conference outdoor meet in 18 years, and the men’s team achieved the highest point total at a conference championship ever.
In the 2021-22 season, Maas helped lead Parkside to several notable achievements. In cross country, the Rangers returned to competition with a victory at the Ranger Open in October, a solid start to the season. At the GLIAC Championships, the men’s team finished 7th, and the women’s team placed 6th.
In track & field, the season was highlighted by Parkside athletes breaking six school records. Caroline Bothe qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the 800 meters, finishing 16th at the national meet. At the GLIAC Indoor Championships, both the men’s and women’s teams posted impressive point totals. The men’s team scored 25.5 more points than the previous year, finishing 5th, while the women’s team tripled their points to finish 6th.
The 2020-21 season was marked by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020-21 season was also the first year Maas was fully in charge of both cross country and track & field at Parkside. His initial impact was felt quickly, as two cross country runners, Brock Eves and Amanda Johnson, earned All-GLIAC honors. Eves went on to compete at the NCAA II Championships.
Maas’ journey at Parkside began in 2019, with a wealth of experience coaching at the Division I and Division II levels. Prior to Parkside, Mass helped to lead Metropolitan State to great heights, coaching athletes to 45 program records, 65 All-Conference performers, and 50 national qualifiers. At Western Illinois, he was instrumental in the development of both cross country and track & field programs.
His background as a former collegiate athlete has greatly influenced his coaching philosophy. A three-time team captain and MVP at Buena Vista University. He also competed for one season at the University of Northern Iowa where he went on to earn All-Missouri Valley honors in the Distance Medley Relay. He also continues to compete at a high level. In the fall of 2022, Maas finished 11th overall and second in the master’s division with a time of 25 hours and 20 minutes at the Mines of Spain 100 Ultra Run, a 100-mile competition held in Dubuque, Iowa.
The Tama, Iowa native graduated from Buena Vista University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies in 2004. He earned his Master of Arts degree in Exercise Science with a physiology emphasis from the University of Northern Iowa in 2006. Nick and his wife Mandi have been married for over 15 years and have a daughter named Katelyn.
