Kattie Carpenter is in her sixth year as head women’s triathlon coach at Calvin University.
In her first year in the fall of 2019, she led the Knights to a trip to the USA Triathlon Collegiate Championships in Tempe, Arizona. She took the Knights back to the USA Triathlon Collegiate Championships in the fall of 2022 and again in the fall of 2023. Calvin's 2023 team took fourth in a field of 11 teams. Kathyn Gardner and Rebekah Etherington were both named College Triathlon Coaches Association Second Team All-American
In addition, Carpenter has guided a Calvin program that has received Scholar All-America honors from the College Triathlon Coaches Association in each of her first five seasons as head coach.
Women's triathlon is a fall sport that begins in early September and concludes with the Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championship in early November. The addition of the women's triathlon program at Calvin is made possible through a grant from the USA Triathlon Foundation. The USA Triathlon Foundation Women's Emerging Sport Grant is distributed to select NCAA membership institutions to develop, implement and sustain women's triathlon programs at the NCAA varsity level.
Carpenter hails from nearby Byron Center. She is a 2003 graduate of Cornerstone University where she majored in English and secondary education with a minor in physical education. She has served as an English language arts and physical education teacher at Crestwood Middle School in Kentwood and serves as a local fitness coach.
“I am extremely excited for this opportunity,” said Carpenter at the time of her hire as Calvin women's triathlon coach. “At Calvin, I feel there is a real strong sense of community and a wonderful Christian atmosphere. I am very much looking forward to building the women’s triathlon program.”
Carpenter is also a licensed personal trainer who has coached over 200 triathlon clients since 2004.
Carpenter got into the sport of triathlon not long after completing her collegiate studies. “I had done some running in high school but had never been a swimmer or had a true road bike,” she said. “I didn’t learn how to swim until I was 22, the same week I purchased my first road bike and it grew from there.”
Carpenter developed her triathlon career to the point where she was able to compete in several elite amateur triathlon races and complete one triathlon of the Ironman distance.
“I have always considered myself a better coach than an athlete,” said Carpenter. “I would say that I lack natural talent/ability; but my determination, passion for knowledge, and hard work allowed me to rise beyond anticipation. I love sharing what I learn with others. Being a teacher/coach defines not only my profession, but my calling.”
Carpenter is looking forward to teaching the sport to aspiring collegiate female student-athletes. “I look forward to finding student-athletes who want to pursue the sport of triathlon,” she said. “Triathlon is a true life-long sport. It can support an overall healthy lifestyle. The people that you meet in the sport will become some of your best life-long friends.”
