Jesse Duvall joined the Arkansas State track and field/cross country staff as a volunteer in August 2017, and after spending the next year as a graduate assistant, accepted the head cross country position for the Red Wolves in January 2019.
During his tenure, A-State has produced 157 Sun Belt Conference medalists, 42 Sun Belt Conference champions, 13 NCAA West Regional qualifiers, and three All-Americans in the distance events. The Sun Belt accolades have been highlighted by three SBC High Point Scorers (Bennett Pascoe – 2021, Pauline Meyer – 2023, Jacob Pyeatt – 2025). Duvall’s athletes also hold school records in 19 of the 20 distance events across indoor and outdoor track.
The 2021 season was historic for the Red Wolves' distance running. Bennett Pascoe opened the year running a school record in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase and went on to become the first male distance runner in program history to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. At the Outdoor Championships, Pascoe posted a time of 8:31.72 to establish a new Sun Belt Conference record and qualify for the 2021 USATF Olympic Trials.
In 2023, Pauline Meyer continued to elevate the A-State distance program. Meyer became the first female steeplechaser to qualify for the NCAA West Regionals, leading a group of five distance runners out to Sacramento, California. She registered a time of 9:44.85 and qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, where she finished eighth and earned First Team All-American honors.
Prior to his time at Arkansas State, Duvall spent a year under the tutelage of Joel Pearson at Cardinal Stritch University with the task of recruiting and developing local and international talent. During his lone year in Milwaukee, Duvall helped the Cardinals come away with NAIA National Championships in the 4x800m relay and distance medley relay, and produced an individual champion in the 1,500m outdoor.
Originally from Racine, WI, and a 2012 graduate of Russellville High School in Arkansas, Duvall completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science and a Master’s in Sports Administration from Arkansas State University. He currently resides in Jonesboro with his wife, Samantha, and son, Hudson.
BY THE NUMBERS
Sun Belt Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
Sun Belt Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year: 2021, 2022
NAIA National Champions: 3
NCAA All-Americans: 3
NCAA West Regional Qualifiers: 13
Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Team Titles: 6
Sun Belt Conference Champions: 42
Sun Belt Conference Medalists: 157
