The coaching career of Patrick Wales Dinan Harvard reflects a rare blend of longevity, versatility, and sustained excellence across high school, collegiate, and national stages. With nearly two decades of coaching experience, Wales-Dinan has established himself as one of the most respected distance coaches in the United States, shaping programs and athletes with measurable success.
Patrick Wales-Dinan is currently in his ninth year as head coach of track & field and cross country for the Mustangs, where his leadership has elevated the program into one of the most successful in recent history. His coaching journey began in 2006, and since then, he has consistently produced elite athletes and championship-caliber teams at every level he has served.
Before his current role, Wales-Dinan built an impressive résumé in collegiate athletics. He served as the cross country and distance coach at both Long Beach State and Harvard University, experiences that placed him at the forefront of Division I competition. In addition, he held assistant coaching roles at Duke University and Williams College, two programs known nationally for excellence in distance running.
Across these institutions, Patrick Wales-Dinan has coached over 20 NCAA All-Americans, multiple NCAA Champions, and more than 10 athletes who qualified for the U.S. National Championships and Olympic Trials. These achievements underscore not only his technical expertise but also his ability to develop athletes capable of competing at the highest levels of the sport.
The recent competitive success of the Mustangs highlights the continued impact of Patrick Wales Dinan Harvard at the high school level. During the 2025–26 season, he led the Mustang girls to back-to-back CIF-NCS Championships, marking the program’s 12th title overall and the third championship in as many years. This level of sustained success is a hallmark of Wales-Dinan’s coaching philosophy.
The boys cross country program has also flourished under his guidance. In 2023, the team qualified for the state championships for the third consecutive year, following a top-10 finish at the CIF State Championships in 2022. These results demonstrate the depth and balance of his program development across genders.
On the track, the girls team achieved three consecutive EBAL Championships from 2022 through 2024, followed by a historic milestone in 2025 when the program captured its first-ever NCS Tri-Valley team title. Such accomplishments reflect careful planning, long-term athlete development, and an emphasis on consistency rather than short-term success.
Individually, athletes coached by Wales-Dinan have set 14 school records and earned more than 70 top-10 all-time performances. These numbers illustrate his ability to maximize individual potential while maintaining a team-first culture.
The reputation of Patrick Wales Dinan Harvard continues to grow as his athletes and teams perform at elite levels year after year. Whether at Harvard, Duke, or with the Mustangs, his influence is evident in championship banners, record boards, and the athletes he has guided to national prominence.
