Lake Superior

Tony Filipek, who was hired in January 2022, enters his second full season as head coach of the Laker men's and women's cross country and track & field programs in 2023-24.

In addition to his coaching duties, Filipek also serves represents the GLIAC as the cross country NCAA Coaches Connection Representative, meeting with the NCAA once per month to discuss updates in legislation for the respective sport. He also serves as the Co-Coaching Liaison for Cross Country and Track for the GLIAC for legislation within the GLIAC operating codes. 

In the spring of 2023, Filipek helped guide junior Jenna Fleming to her third-consecutive GLIAC championship in the women's javeling as well as USTFCCA Second Team All-American honors, USTFCCA All-Midwest Region recognition, and a tenth place finish at the NCAA DII National Championship Meet.

In the spring of 2022, Filipek helped Jenna Fleming to a GLIAC championship, USTFCCCA Second Team All-American honors, USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region honors, and a 12th place finish at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships in women's javelin. He also helped coach Fleming and David Mitter to set new school records in women's javelin and the men's 10,000-meter events, respectfully, the latter of which had stood for 20 years prior to being broken.

Filipek joined the Lakers after spending over two years with the Western Michigan Broncos Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field programs, specializing in distance races. While at Western Michigan, Filipek served as an assistant coach as he helped guide the Broncos in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Among his coaching accomplishments, Filipek led Juliane Sormain to a seventh place finish at the 2020 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships along with a 2:11 personal record time in prelims. During the 2020 cross country season, Filipek guided Rebecca McNamee to Second Team All-MAC honors as she placed eighth in the conference championships. Filipek coached McNamee to a seventh place finish at the 2021 Indoor MAC Track & Field Championships in the mile run (4:56) and a sixth place finish in the 800 meter race (2:13) as she scored in both events for the Broncos. At the 2021 MAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Filipek led Brittney Hall to score for the first time in her collegiate career as she posted a third place finish in the 5,000 meter distance (16:45) and a fourth place finish in the 10,000 meter distance (34:55). Hall’s 10,000 meter time stands as the second fastest in Western Michigan history. 

Filipek’s student-athletes at Western Michigan also had success academically during his tenure with 15 cross country student-athletes receiving All-MAC Academic recognition and 29 track & field student-athletes receiving All-MAC Academic honors. In addition, senior distance runner Rebecca McNamee was named a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete in 2021. 

Prior to Western Michigan, Filipek served as a volunteer assistant coach for the men’s and women’s distance runners at Lake Superior State. Filipek worked under previous head coach Rob Gallinger during the 2018-19 season. Filipek was a member of the coaching staff when David Mitter became the first Laker cross country runner to qualify for nationals in 25 years. 

From March to July 2018, Filipek served as the head men’s cross country and track & field coach at Cleary University in Howell, Mich. Prior to his first head coaching position, Filipek worked as an assistant coach at Lansing Community College and a volunteer assistant at Oakland University.  

At Lansing Community College, Filipek coached cross country and track athletes to nine NJCAA All-American Awards as well as an 8th place finish at the NJCAA Cross Country Nationals in 2017 and a 19th place finish at the NJCAA Men’s Track & Field Nationals in 2018. 

Filipek’s longest coaching stop was at his alma mater, Saginaw Valley State. He spent three years as an assistant coach and recruiting/travel coordinator from 2011-14, helping produce 11 Division II All-Americans and 19 NCAA Division II National Qualifiers. Filipek helped coach the women’s cross country team to three consecutive appearances at the NCAA National Championships placing 13th, 12th and 11th, for their best finishes in program history. During his tenure at SVSU, he coached the GLIAC Women’s Freshman Athlete of the Year for the outdoor season in 2013 and he coached the SVSU Ryder Woman Athlete of the Year in both 2012 and 2014.

As a student-athlete at Saginaw Valley State, Filipek was a three-time Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) champion in the 800-meter run and also was a member of SVSU’s distance medley relay championship team. Filipek was an NCAA Division II All-American on two occasions for his performance in the 800 meter distance and holds the school record at SVSU in both the indoor and outdoor 800 meter distance. In 2010, Filipek was named the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Track Athlete of the Year. 

After graduating from college, Filipek ran semi professionally. He placed ninth overall at the 2013 USA Road Mile Championship and fourth overall at the USA Track & Field 50 Mile Road Championships in 2018.  

Filipek graduated from Saginaw Valley State University in December 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and completed his master’s degree in kinesiology from Wayne State University in May 2015.