Jeff Barker has been coaching track and cross country at Kansas Wesleyan since 2007.
Barker comes to Kansas Wesleyan from Calumet College at St. Joseph (Ind.), where he was most recently the head distance track coach and assistant cross country coach. He also held a similar concurrent position at Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana.
Before being named head distance coach and assistant cross country coach at Calumet, Barker was named the program's first head cross country coach in June, 2005. By August of that year, he had recruited 10 student-athletes, including a national qualifier for the NAIA Championships that season.
Barker earned degrees in Criminal Justice and Human Service and Social Work from Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind., after excelling at Bishop Noll Institute High School.
At Saint Joseph's, he was named a team captain and recruiting leader in the 2002-2003 season.
At Bishop Noll Institute, he was named the 1998-99 Athlete of the Year, while earning several individual honors, including Honorable Mention All-State honors in 1998, and he was the LAC Conference Champion in 1998, setting a course record of 15:50 for the 5K race. He went on to earn LAC Champion honors in the 3200m and was the IHSAA Sectional Champion in the 3200m.
Barker is committed to building his programs based on the recent success in both cross country and track at KWU.
"One of my favorite quotes is ?If what we did last year still looks good this year, then are we really doing what it takes to get better?'. We are going to work very hard to develop a program that cross country/track athletes want to be a part of daily. Once the program has purpose, the passion will grow, and the athletes will love being a part of something truly special."
CROSS COUNTRY COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Cross Country 2009
-
Women
- Butler Invite Champions
- NAIA Mid-State Champions
- KCAC Conference Champions
- Team National Qualifier- First ever appearance in school history
- First ever top 25 NAIA Ranking- 20th
- 4 Runners All Conference
- 1 Runner Honorable Mention
- KCAC Coach of the Year
-
Men
- Baker Invite Champions
- KCAC Conference 2nd place
- 4 Runners All Conference
- 2 Runners Honorable Mention
- 3 Individual National Qualifiers
Cross Country 2008
- Women
- KCAC Conference 2nd place
- 3 Runners All Conference
- 3 Individual National Qualifiers
- Individual Conference Champion- Sarah Williams
- NAIA All American- Sarah Williams
- KCAC Coach of the Year
- Men
- KCAC Conference 2nd place
- 2 Runners All Conference
- 1 Runner Honorable Mention
- 2 National Qualifiers
Cross Country 2007
-
Women
- KCAC Conference 2nd place
- 3 Runners All Conference
- Individual Conference Champion- Jolene Mick
- 2 Individual National Qualifiers
-
Men
- KCAC Conference 5th place
- 2 Runners Honorable Mention
