Austin Balen joined the Navy track & field / cross country staff as director of operations in August of 2022. Balen comes to Navy with over 10 years of experience in athletic operations from highly successful programs and organizations.
In his current role, Balen has complete oversight of the team's administration, including day-to-day operations, team travel, championship arrangements, recruiting operations and all other team-related activities of the track & field / cross country programs. Additionally, he operates the @navytfxc Instagram account, designs Track & Fields Army-Navy and Conference Championship apparel, as well as serves as the meet director for all Navy Track & Field home meets and all championships hosted at the Academy.
Prior to coming to the Naval Academy, Balen served on the staffs of Duke men's basketball and football, North Carolina football and Bowling Green football.
During his two stints at Duke, Balen worked on the staffs of Mike Krzyzewski and David Cutcliffe at Duke Men's Basketball (2017-2018) and Duke Football (2016), respectively, where he assisted in day-to-day operations, recruiting, summer camp operations and team travel. In his time with Duke football, Balen assisted in the planning and design of the renovated outdoor practice facilities for the football program. In between his stints at Duke, he served on the staff of North Carolina football assisting with football operations and wide receivers during the 2017 season.
Balen also served on the Championship Administration team for the United States Golf Association, which oversaw the planning and execution of the 2020 US Open Championship at Winged Foot. He assisted with player / caddie relations, public transportation and volunteer coordination. Following his time with the USGA, Balen worked within golf operations and administration from 2020-2022, hosting large-scale tournaments, working with US presidents, congressmen, professional athletes and other VIPs, as well as overseeing a staff of over 100 operational team members and caddies.
Balen is a 2017 graduate of Bowling Green State University where he majored in sport management and minored in marketing. During his time at Bowling Green, Balen served on the football staffs of Dino Babers and Mike Jinks. In addition to his responsibilities within the football program, Balen worked for various organizations in operational roles including the NHL All-Star Game, NCAA Women’s Final Four, MLB Winter Meetings and MAC Conference Championship. Additionally, he assisted in drafting an agreement between Bowling Green and the NFL to continuously send students to gain work experience at the Super Bowl.
Prior to his time with the football program, Balen worked with IMG-Learfield in corporate sponsorship and on the athletic marketing and promotions team with Bowling Green Athletics.
From 2013-2014, Balen worked in professional baseball, serving as a broadcast director, graphics operator, and cameraman for the Durham Bulls. In his two seasons with the Bulls, Balen was part of a broadcast team that had multiple plays featured on “ESPN’s Top 10”, broadcasted multiple international games via USA Baseball, the AAA Home Run Derby and All-Star Game and Durham’s 2013 International League Championship.
Balen, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., now resides in Kent Island, Md.
