Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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48 OCT. 4, 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED country among high school rookies, and finished fourth at the 2018 Missouri State Championship. Under the guidance and mentorship of high school coach Brian Goatley, Ackley began taking his distance training more seriously, and claimed back-to-back Missouri state cross country titles as a sophomore in 2019 — by 20 seconds — and as a junior in 2020, before finishing state runner-up as a senior in 2021. During his high school running ca- reer, Ackley claimed seven individual state titles — cross country twice, 800 meters twice, 1,600 meters twice and 3,200 meters once. Through it all, Goatley became much more than a coach. This proud program leader also be- came a trainer, a tutor, a chauffeur, a father figure, a confidant and a conduit. Remember, Ackley's adoptive parents were both in their 70s when Daelen was moving through high school. "Because of their difference in age, I was kind of a go-between for Daelen's parents and him," Goatley said. "I saw his potential, and I think once Daelen realized that I was there not just for his running talent but I was there for him as a person, that's when the bond really developed." Back-to-back state titles put Ackley on the cross country recruiting radar, and Notre Dame always topped his wish list. But with finances tight and his par- ents wanting Daelen to stay somewhat close to home, a relocation to South Bend seemed unreasonable, and Ackley committed to Tulsa, until a late scholar- ship offer came from the Irish. Concerned over how he'd fit into the unique environment Notre Dame pro- vides, Ackley still couldn't pass up the Irish offer, took a chance and nervously flipped his commitment. "I was worried about trying to fit in, and it was a little weird," Ackley ex- plained of his expectations. "It's going to be a bunch of rich, snobby suburban kids at Notre Dame. That is what it's go- ing to be, and I'm going to be the outlier. "But when I got here, I realized that people were much more genuine than I thought. It caught me off guard." Against all odds, Ackley has thrived since his arrival to campus. He's been a member of the All-ACC Academic Team and a one-mile cham- pion at the 2025 ACC Indoor Champi- onships. More recently, he won the in- dividual championship at the National Catholic Invite 8,000-meter cross country meet Sept. 19. "Daelen has really matured as a per- son over his time here at Notre Dame," Irish director of track and cross country Matt Sparks said. "That maturity is re- flected in his lifestyle decisions and his professionalism to the sport." From homeless shelters, to racial bul- lying, to chaotic relocations, to anger and bad decisions, to the death of his mother, to an uncertain future, Ackley had plenty of chances to check out on life and follow the same destructive path that his father, his mother and one of his siblings took. "I never want my kids to have to deal with the same things that I had to deal with," said Ackley, wise beyond his years, "because I know how bad it is." Instead, armed with the patience and love of his adoptive parents, the guidance of his high school coach, and the support of his Notre Dame teammates and class- mates, Ackley has overcome long odds, and become an inspiration to all. "I'm really happy that my younger self was able to think my whole situa- tion through. I'm really grateful that I was smart enough to do that," Ackley said. "If there is any positive, I have this mindset now that I can accomplish whatever I want to. If I made it this far after dealing with all of that growing up, then I'm not really sure what I couldn't make it through." ✦ Earl and Sylvia Ackley became the legal guardians for 10-year-old Daelen in 2014 and became his adop- tive parents in 2016. PHOTO COURTESY ACKLEY FAMILY Irish Roundup CROSS COUNTRY The No. 8-ranked men and No. 11 women both notched a first-place finish in the National Catholic Invitational Sept. 19 in South Bend … The men took first through fourth en route to a team score of 20, well ahead of runner-up Loyola Chicago (55) … The women swept the top five places for a perfect team score of 15, with Lewis (69) a distant second. MEN'S SOCCER (5-1-2 OVERALL, 2-0-0 ACC) Blanked Louisville 3-0 Sept. 19 at Alumni Stadium … Defeated Wright State 3-2 Sept. 23 in Alumni Stadium on the strength of a first-half hat trick from Mitch Ferguson. WOMEN'S SOCCER (8-0-1 OVERALL, 3-0-0 ACC) The No. 2-ranked Fighting Irish beat No. 22 North Carolina 4-3 Sept. 24 at Alumni Stadium. VOLLEYBALL (3-5 OVERALL, 0-0 ACC) Lost a pair of matches to Michigan, 3-0 Sept. 19 in South Bend and 3-0 Sept. 21 in Ann Arbor, Mich.