Shawn Leiss joined the Dickinson State cross country program as an assistant coach in 2026, working with both the Blue Hawk men's and women's teams. Leiss brings more than three decades of experience in education, administration and coaching, including extensive work with cross country and distance runners throughout southwestern North Dakota.
Leiss' coaching career has included stops at Four Winds Community High School, Killdeer High School and Dickinson High School. At Killdeer, he helped establish the school's cross country program and worked primarily with distance runners as an assistant track and field coach. He was also part of the coaching staff for Killdeer's 1998 North Dakota Class B boys track and field state championship team.
Leiss later spent five seasons as the head boys and girls cross country coach at Dickinson High School after previously serving as an assistant with the program. He also coached boys and girls track and field at Dickinson High, working primarily with distance athletes.
In addition to his coaching background, Leiss spent more than 30 years in public education. He began his career as a special education teacher and later served in teaching and administrative roles throughout North Dakota, Montana and Nebraska. His administrative experience included serving as a secondary and elementary principal, activities director, assistant principal and director of student services for Dickinson Public Schools.
A Dickinson State graduate, Leiss earned a bachelor's degree in social and behavioral science in 1987. He later completed a special education certification and a master's degree in education with an emphasis in learning disabilities from Minot State University. Leiss also completed post-master's coursework in elementary and secondary administration at North Dakota State University and earned certification in elementary and secondary school administration in 1999.
Leiss and his wife, Laura, have three adult children. Laura is an assistant professor in Dickinson State's College of Education. Leiss also works part time at KDIX Radio in Dickinson.
