Lee Rietsma enters his fifth season as the Head Men's Cross Country Coach at Pasco-Hernando State College after serving seven seasons as the Bobcats' women's cross country assistant coach. Since taking over the men's program in 2022, Rietsma has established PHSC as one of the top NJCAA Division II cross country programs in the country, building a culture centered on competitive excellence, academic achievement and athlete development.
Under Rietsma's leadership, the Bobcats have earned three consecutive runner-up finishes at the FCSAA Region 8 Championships (2023–2025) after placing third during the program's inaugural season in 2022. PHSC has also competed at the NJCAA Division II National Championships each year under his direction, finishing 11th nationally in 2022 and 12th and 13th in subsequent seasons.
Rietsma has coached multiple nationally recognized student-athletes, including PHSC's first NJCAA All-American, Jaime Candelaria (2024) and NJCAA All-American Malik Millet (2025). His teams have also earned Region 8 All-Academic Team honors while maintaining a strong commitment to success in the classroom.
Before becoming head coach, Rietsma spent seven seasons as the women's assistant coach, helping recruit and develop athletes during one of the most successful eras in program history. During that time, PHSC captured five FCSAA Region 8 team championships, produced two Region 8 individual champions and Runners of the Year and recorded two top 10 finishes at the NJCAA National Championships.
A lifelong runner, Rietsma began competing in cross country and track in middle school and qualified for the Michigan High School State Cross Country Championships all four years of high school before his collegiate career where he specialized in the 800. He continues to compete in endurance events across the country and has completed 27 marathons, including the New York City Marathon, Chicago Marathon and the Boston Marathon 11 times.
Rietsma earned a Master of Science in Athletic Coaching from Florida State University, a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Southern New Hampshire University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Central Michigan University.
He holds several professional coaching credentials, including USA Track & Field Level 1 Coaching Certification, USTFCCCA Coaching Certification, Work in Sports Safe Coach Certification, USA Track & Field SafeSport Certification and First Aid/CPR/AED certification.
