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  • New Minnesota State assistant coach Jim Dilling (lower right) watches the form of freshman Keyvan Rudd during high jump workouts last week. John Cross

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  • Former Minnesota State standout Jim Dilling has competed in both national and international meets since leaving MSU five years ago. He has jumped as high as 7-feet-6 1/2 in his career.

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  • Jim Dilling

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January 22, 2012

Former MSU standout Dilling jumps into coaching

Still gunning for Olympics, high jumper joins Mavericks’ staff

By Jim Rueda Free Press Sports Editor

MANKATO — Seven years ago, Wisconsin native Jim Dilling was the toast of the Minnesota State University track program.

The Mavericks’ junior high-jumper was winning conference and national championships at a rapid pace as well as setting numerous North Central Conference records. By the time he graduated in the winter of 2007, he was perhaps the most heralded athlete in the storied history of the program.

Well, guess what? He’s back, he’s coaching and he’s still competing.

Dilling has returned to the MSU program as the high jump coach while he pursues a master’s degree in sports management. He spent most of the last six years at Kansas State University training for international competition and serving as a volunteer coach.

“I was at the U.S. Track and Field Championships in 2007 and (KSU’s) Cliff Rovelto was my coach,” Dilling said. “I decided to follow him back to Kansas State and keep working with him. He’s taught me a lot.”

Dilling finished sixth at the Olympic trials that year with  jump of 7 feet, 53⁄4 inches. He was actually tied for third in terms of height but slipped to sixth on the basis of more attempts. The top three make the Olympic team.

His training was derailed in 2009 when he suffered a partially torn Achilles tendon in his left foot, which is also his plant foot. Two surgeries and 18 months later, Dilling returned to serious training.

“It feels great now,” he said. “I’m starting to get back close to where I was.”

The injury brought the realization that Dilling needed to start preparing for life after competition. That’s why he came back to MSU to continue his education.

“This is a great place for me,” he said. “I loved it as an undergrad, the facilities are great, I’m familiar with all the coaches. It just feels right to be here.”

Minnesota State head coach Mark Schuck said he welcomed Dilling back when he expressed interest in returning.

“You don’t get guys of his pedigree to help out every day,” Schuck said. “We’re limiting him to just coaching the high jump this year so he can still do his own training. We expect to expand his role in the future.”  

Five years after leaving the program, Dilling says the Mavericks are still strong in the high jump. He believes freshman Keyvan Rudd of Iowa has the potential to be a national champion.

“He has the ability; we’re just working on his technique,” Dilling said. “I think he’s going to be pretty good.”

As for his own jumping career, Dilling is intent on making another run at the Olympics.

He has been invited to the U.S. Open on Jan. 28, at Madison Square Garden. In February, he hopes to compete in the U.S. Indoor Championships at Albuquerque, N.M., and at the Indoor World Games in Budapest.

If everything goes right he should be in top condition to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials again in early June at Eugene, Ore.

“I just have to get into the top three,” he said. “You just have to be at your best on that particular day.”

Whether he makes it not, Dilling expects to continue coaching at MSU for at least two more years. After that, who knows?

If Dilling opts to remain in coaching after getting his master’s, Schuck said he’ll do a fine job.

“Jim has the kind of personality where he relates well to people,” Schuck said. “It remains to be seen how good a coach he’ll be if he wants to stick with it, but he’s the kind of guy people will listen to and respect.

“I think he’s going to do a good job for us. We’re lucky to have him.”

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