Jim Lear returns for his eighth season as head coach of Duquesne's men's cross country program. Lear was promoted to head coach in 1996 after two campaigns as a DU assistant and brings a wealth of experience and success to the program. Lear will also return as a men's outdoor track and field assistant coach, working with the distance runners.

During his tenure at Duquesne, the program has gradually improved each season. In fact last year, the Dukes placed third at the Atlantic 10 Championships, equaling the program's highest finish in school history, which Lear also oversaw in 2000. Lear has also seen numerous runners be named either Atlantic 10 Performer or Rookie of the Week and has had five Atlantic 10 All-Conference performers in the past five years, including current two-time honoree, junior Ryan Bender.

A former track and cross country runner himself in high school and college, Lear began his coaching career in 1975 as the head cross country and track coach at Central Catholic. He coached the Vikings for nine years and also had a one-year simultaneous stint as assistant track coach at Carnegie Mellon University in 1981-82, where he produced his first All-American performer.

Following his tenure at Central Catholic, Lear worked for one year as coach at Mercersburg Academy in Central Pennsylvania before accepting the position of assistant track coach in charge of distance runners at the University of Pittsburgh in 1985. During nine seasons at Pitt, Lear guided two additional athletes to All-American status and was involved with the only Pitt cross-country team to ever qualify for the NCAA Championships in 1990.

Lear resides in Wilkins Township with his wife Debbie and their three daughters, LeAnne (21), Kaitlin (17) and Jessica (13).