As an athlete (1971–75), Lananna ran cross country and track and field and was captain of the 1974 C.W. Post College team that finished fourth in the NCAA Division II Championships.
C.W. Post College
In 1975, Lananna was named head coach of cross country at his alma mater. Lananna was inducted in the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.[1]
Dartmouth College
Lananna served as assistant athletic director and head coach for Dartmouth Big Green cross country and track and field. In 12 seasons with the Dartmouth College Big Green, Lananna's team appeared at the NCAA Cross Country Championships every year - including two straight runner-up finishes for the men's team in 1986 and 1987.[2]
Stanford University
From 1992 to 2003, Lananna built one of the NCAA's elite programs.
His cross country and track and field teams claimed five NCAA Division I team championships.
Stanford Cardinal track and field produced 35 top-10 NCAA finishes, and 22 NCAA individual titles.[3]
Nike Farm Team
In 1994, Lananna served as president and co-founder of the Nike Farm Team, a post-collegiate program for corporately funded professional middle distance and distance athletes based at Stanford.[4]
Oberlin College
Lananna served as athletic director for two years from 2003 to 2005.
Lananna led the revitalization and reorganization of the department of athletics and physical education. His efforts to improve fundraising and enhance the department's resources allowed Oberlin to increase staffing and upgrade facilities, including the construction of a new stadium for soccer, lacrosse, and track and field.
University of Oregon
In July 2005, Lananna's leadership helped the Oregon Ducks track and field and Eugene, Oregon win the right to host the 2008 US Olympic Trials (track and field). In July 2006, a two-year renovation began to prepare Historic Hayward Field to host exciting track and field meets in the United States. Lananna has also led the establishment of a new post-collegiate club, the Oregon Track Club Elite, which provides a new opportunity for middle distance/distance athletes to train with the goal of being competitive on the world stage. Named Associate Athletic Director at the University of Oregon in July 2005, Lananna has been responsible for creating a vision for the Oregon track and field program and Historic Hayward Field.
TrackTown USA
Lananna served as president of TrackTown USA, Inc. which is a non-profit organization responsible for organizing the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships, the 2015 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships, the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships and the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Track & Field.
Lananna also led the East team to a track and field title at the 1990 U.S. Olympic Festival and was an assistant coach for Team USA at the 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships.[5]
Lananna was named Director of Track and Field and Cross Country and Associate Athletics Director for Administration at the University of Virginia in September of 2019.
