Among Jack Stevens' achievements includes the Gunggandji man's ability to pick up a new challenge.

Like running marathons from scratch.

So much so that the Indigenous Marathon Foundation is backing the capability of the Territorian to help everyday young blackfullas run 42.195 kilometres for the first time.

"I'm honoured to serve as the Indigenous Marathon Project head coach and give back to a program that's invested so much in me," Stevens said.

"The ripple effect created by graduates, within their communities and across the country, inspires me.

"I want to help support the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders."

After graduating from the class of 2023 on the back of crossing the line in New York, it has taken Stevens a little more than 12 months to go from student to teacher – a record in de Castella's endearing 15-year project.

Stevens, who was raised on Larrakia Country in Darwin before a shift south to Wurundjeri Country to study at Naarm's RMIT and Monash University, has relocated to IMF headquarters in Canberra to become the third IMP graduate to take up the coaching position.

He is set to follow in the footsteps of Adrian Dodson, who ran a first marathon in 2014 before coaching from 2017 until 2021, and Hope Davison, who graduated under Dobson in 2021 and took the role last year as the Foundation's first female coach.

"A marathon is no easy feat," Stevens said.

"Yet, it's the small, repeated efforts in training that compound over time to create something extraordinary.

"It's a journey of resilience, patience, and belief in the process.

"I'm thrilled to coach and support this year's IMP squad as they work towards running their first marathon."

Stevens enters the job with more than five years behind him in an Indigenous community engagement position with University of Melbourne students at Murrup Barak.

While the marathon is a running accomplishment which sees participants follow a rigorous training schedule to build on trialling distances from 10-30km over six months of training, graduation also includes holistic measures like completing educational components.

"IMP was an opportunity to continue growing as a positive and healthy role model to both my family and community, as well as taking on the challenge of running a marathon," Stevens said.

For de Castella, the 1986 marathon world champion and the 1982 and 1986 Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the event, the fact Stevens comes from a strong organisational and planning backgrounds complements his skills towards a deep passion for long-distance running.

"I'm excited to see what Jack will bring to the role," de Castella said.

"He'll do a great job of building on the work of fellow graduates, Adrian Dodson-Shaw and Hope Davison, who have previously held the role as head coach."

Stevens commenced the coaching position on January 29 in time for applications for selection in the 2025 IMP squad.