Jill Steele joined the staff in the fall of 2011 as Director of Operations, and was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Track & Field Operations in March 2017.
The Seattle, Wash., native is responsible for the day-to-day administration and operation of the track and field and cross country program. Steele’s primary duties include budget management, meet management, NCAA compliance, and academic eligibility. She also serves as the program’s liaison with facilities, events, academics, public relations, marketing and promotions, and equipment.
As Director of Operations, Steele coordinated team travel and logistics, served on the meet operations and marketing committees for the 2012 Olympic Trials, and was the assistant meet director for the 2012 Pac-12 Track & Field Championships.
Prior to arriving in TrackTown USA, Steele spent two years working at the University of Oklahoma as a graduate assistant within the athletic department while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Higher Education and Intercollegiate Athletic Administration. She spent time working with the Oklahoma Track & Field team, and as an academic learning specialist where she advised and monitored student-athlete academic progress, and mentored international student-athletes and those with learning disabilities. She was also the meet director for the 2011 Big 12 Track & Field Championships.
Steele was a member of the track and field and cross country teams at Utah State University, and graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. She won the Joe E. Whitesides Scholar-Athlete Award from 2003 to 2006, and was named to the Western Athletic Conference all-academic team in 2005 and 2006.
After graduation, Steele spent three years working as a certified personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach, and spent one season as Head Cross Country Coach at Overlake High School in Redmond, Wash. prior to moving to Oklahoma for graduate school.