Sean Bossman returns to his alma mater for his sixth season as an assistant with the Radford University track and field program, overseeing all aspects of distance.
Alongside his assistant responsibilities, Bossman will begin his fourth year as the head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country programs.
In his first head coaching stint, the men’s cross country squad was picked ninth in the preseason and surprised everyone at the Big South Championship, finishing fifth - the highest showing since 2007.
Bossman’s coaching experience molded freshman Brian Gorwitz into the Highlanders’ best distance runner in 2010-11. He finished 23rd out of 81 competitors at the Championship, paced Radford runners in every meet and collected the Big South Men’s Runner of the Week honor for his 19th-place performance at the James Madison Invitational.
Four runners also competed in the NCAA Division I Cross Country Southeast Regional, with solid showings by Gorwitz, Thomas Keefe, Sam Keltner and Nathan Turner in their first-ever 10K event.
On the track side, Bossman helped Gorwitz reach a U.S. Junior National qualifying time and two consecutive victories in the 5000m and also his first-ever 1500m title. He also had a hand in Keltner’s five new PR’s this year in six events.
Each season while Bossman has been coaching, the Highlanders have placed a men and women’s cross country athlete on the Conference’s All-Academic Team (Brittany Christian – 2008, 2009; Joel Hanlon - 2008; Nathan Turner - 2009). 2010 was no different as Sam Keltner and Hannah Scheren earned a spot on the team.
In his two years voluntarily assisting the distance program, Bossman helped guide one men’s all-conference performer, Dawit Legesse, and a two-time women’s all-conference athlete, Lori Crotts, in cross country.
In the course of his Radford career, Bossman was an outstanding distance performer for the Highlanders. He twice earned all-conference distinctions as a part of the distance medley relay team in 2006 and the 800m in 2008. Among his accomplishments on the track, Bossman also excelled in the classroom, garnering all-academic honors during the outdoor season in 2008.
Bossman clocked Radford’s 2008 season-best times in the indoor 800m (1:55.80) and mile (4:23.56). He also held Radford’s best times in the 800 (1:52.48) and 1,500m (3:56.50) during the outdoor season.
Bossman earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise, sport and health education in May of 2008 and currently resides in Radford.
COACH CHUMBLEY’S COMMENTS ON BOSSMAN
“Sean was one of our top athletes when he ran at RU and can now share his racing and training experience with the young men and women that literally follow in his footsteps.”
COACHING EXPERIENCE
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2010-Present |
Head Cross Country/Assistant Track Coach, Radford |
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2008-10 |
Volunteer Assistant Track Coach, Radford |
