Coaches Karen and Jim Brandt
Karen and Jim Brandt are in their ninth season as the coaches of the men's and women's cross country and track teams at Bloomsburg University.
In their years of coaching at Bloomsburg University, the Brandts have rebuilt the Huskies' teamd into one of the more respected programs in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
During their tenure at Bloomsburg they have coached two All-Americans in track and two in cross country; had twelve athletes qualify for either track or cross country NCAA's; had one ECAC indoor track champion, four PSAC indoor championships and two PSAC outdoor champions as well as numerous championship podium finishers in either indoor or outdoor track. In 2007 the women's cross country team made history by winning the school's first PSAC championship and first NCAA East Region championship as well as competing in the NCAA National championship. This finishes the business the team started with their second place finish at the women's 2005 cross country championships. Additionally, Coach Karen Brandt was honored as the PSAC Women's Coach of the Year and NCAA East Region Women's Coach of the Year.
The Brandts have also coached the 2003 PSAC Cross Country Rookie of the Year; had multiple athletes earn All-Conference and All-Region honors in cross country and track; had numerous Bloomsburg University and PSAC scholar-athletes; as well as had team and individual All-Academic honors at the NCAA level in both cross country and track.
The men's cross country team was third in the PSAC in 2003 and fourth in 2004 and fourth at the NCAA regional championships in 2004. The women were fourth in both the 2002 and 2004 NCAA regional championships. The women's team has consistently ranked well among the nation's top 25 teams with this year's final ranking being in the top 10.
The Brandts are familiar with the rebuilding process having taken over their high school program on its point of extinction. After only five years at the helm, the Brandts brought the program to league division championship status. They also enjoyed multiple individual cross country State qualifiers as well as district and State qualifiers in their distance track squad.
After 10 years of coaching the Lower Dauphin high school team the Brandts moved to the collegiate ranks. They spent 1998-99 at Susquehanna University co-coaching the cross country team with Karen at the helm of the women's track program and Jim handling the men's and women's distance program.
As coaches and athletes in their own right, the Brandts bring over 40 years of combined experience to the sport. Their desire is to attract serious student-athletes who are committed to obtaining the best academic and athletic experience they can make for themselves at college. They seek runners who are willing to work hard, be competitive, bond with their teammates, and experience the fun that hard training and good racing can produce.
