Oakland University Athletics

John Nemens enters his 26th season as the assistant coach of the Oakland men's and women's cross country team and assistant distance coach for the men's and women's track and field team. 

In the fall of 2017, Nemens assisted the Oakland women's cross country team becoming just the third school in Horizon League history to win three consecutive championships since Butler (2009-11) on the home Katke-Cousins Golf Course. Maggie Schneider captured the women's 6K title followed by Rachel Levy (2nd) and Ashley Burr (3rd). Schneider was named Athlete of the Year earning All-League First Team honors along with Levy and Burr. Madison Leigh and Sammy Mondry were named All-League Second Team after finishing 11th and 12th respectively.

The men's team also won its second HL league title in a three-year span led by a second place finish by Bryce Stroede followed by Jacob Bowman and Andrew Bowman in third and fourth respectively to earn All-League First Team honors.

In the fall of 2016 Oakland’s women won their first ever back-to-back cross country league championship, winning by a margin of 60 points over second place Wright State. Both Rachel Levy and Stroede won the individual championship and each earned athlete of the year at the meet, marking the first time in program history Oakland had the men’s and women’s individual champions in cross country.

The 2015 cross country season was a banner year for the Golden Grizzlies as Nemens assisted both teams to Horizon League titles and seven total first-place finishes on the season. Jacob and Andrew Bowman both earned All-Horizon League first-team honors, while George O'Connor, Bryce Stroede and Michael Cox earned second-team honors. For the women, Ashley Burr, Rachel Levy, Miranda Haas and Karli Keur all earned places on the All-Horizon League first-team.

During the 2010 season, Nemens helped lead the women's team to their first-ever Summit League Championship as Oakland placed four runners in the top eight to score 45 points edging out defending champion Southern Utah by five points.

In 2005 campaign, Niemens helped guide the men's team to its second conference championship in four years, as Oakland placed all five of its scoring runners in the top-15 to compile 38 points, edging Southern Utah for the title. In 2002, Nemens aided the men;s team to their first Summit League Championship, breaking Southern Utah's streak of five straight titles. 

Nemens is no stranger to the OU cross country program as he competed as a student-athlete for the Black and Gold for two years in 1992 and 1993. He was a two-time All-GLIAC and two-time All-Region selection and team captain as a senior. Prior to his stint at Oakland, Nemens was a two-time junior college All-American at Macomb Community College (1990-91). Nemens was also inducted into the Hollie L. Lepley Hall of Honor in 2023.

The Sterling Heights resident graduated from Oakland in 1997. Nemens is currently a Detroit police officer and has been since 1995. He graduated from the Macomb County Police Academy in 1994.