Former Lake Superior State distance standout Steve Eles was named LSSU's head cross country and track coach in August, 2005. He resigned his position as head track and field coach in August, 2010, in order to accept an administrative position on campus, but continues coaching LSSU distance runners and serve as head cross country coach.

Eles graduated from LSSU in 2003 with a B.S. in electrical engineering and spent two years as a graduate assistant at Tiffin University, where he earned a master of business administration degree.

Fifty-two LSSU track and field records and two cross country marks were set during Eles' track and field coaching tenure. Eles coached all-America quarter-miler Adam Smith and all-conference distance runner Katie Scott, who combined to earn nine USTFCCCA Academic All-America honors. Former Laker Ashley Quick also earned academic All-America recognition in cross country in 2007.

As a junior in 2010, Jon Allen won the NCAA Division II outdoor title in the men's triple jump and was named Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's field athlete of the meet. Allen, Smith (men's 400-meter dash), Anthony Pavicic (men's 1,500-meter run) and Ben Charbonneau (javelin) are GLIAC champions coached by Eles. 

The 2008 men's cross country team was ranked 12th nationally in team grade point average by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Lakers had the highest team GPA among Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schools. The 2005, '06 and '07 men's and women's cross country teams also made the national scholar list.

The 2007 Laker men's and women's track and field teams were named USTFCCCA All-Academic Indoor and Outdoor Scholar Teams, finishing 10th and 17th in team GPA, respectively. The LSSU women's track and field team also made the national scholar list in 2006, '08 and '10, while the men's program has been recognized four straight years.

The Sudbury, Ont., native offers extensive experience as an athlete and coach in Nordic skiing. As a runner, he won the GLIAC 3,000-meter steeplechase title and was a national qualifier. He placed seventh in the World Championships Trials in 2003 and 12th in the Olympic Trials in 2004. He finished sixth in the 1998 Canadian Nationals and eighth in 2002.

Eles also earned All-GLIAC honors in the steeplechase, the men's 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs, and the men's 4x800-meter relay. He still holds LSSU's steeplechase record of 9:11.71.

Eles' wife, Sarah, who is finishing her exercise science degree at LSSU, is the program's chief fund-raiser. Steve and Sarah Eles have two daughters, Autumn and Alaina.

Steve Eles is also a member of the LSSU Department of Mathematics faculty.