A 2013 St. Francis graduate, Melanie Stralen returned to her alma mater to join Chad Worthen's cross country and track & field staffs as an assistant coach.

Stralen lettered in both track and cross country as a Troubadour from 2010-13, primarily in the middle distances – 800 and 1,600 meters. However, she went on to compete as a sprinter at Gonzaga, helping that program revive its sprint crew after an eight-year absence. Stralen was selected as team co-captain as a senior, then graduated from the Zags in 2017 with a degree in sociology.

Stralen more recently completed her certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and now launches her career in helping young women athletes support their longevity and health through sports. Meanwhile, she remains active in running, now training for marathons.