MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama track and field/cross country teams made a new addition to its staff with the hiring of Parker Cowles as announced by head coach Paul Brueske on Thursday.

Cowles will take over as head coach of both the Jaguar men's and women's cross country teams and serve as an assistant coach with the track and field team developing the distance runners. 

"We are excited to have coach Cowles joining the staff. He is very knowledgeable, comes highly recommended and has strong credentials," Brueske said. "I think he will help us continue to grow even stronger in the distance events."

Cowles brings seven years of collegiate coaching experience and was most recently an assistant coach for the track and field and cross country teams at Texas-Rio Grande Valley working with the middle and long distance student-athletes.

While at UTRGV, Cowles coached two Western Athletic Conference champions, Jennifer Zapata and Krysta Martinez, each of whom set individual records. Cowles also coached the 4x100m relay team to its third fastest time in program history.

Before arriving in Edinburg, Texas, Cowles had stints at the United States Air Force Academy, Barton County Community College and Idaho State.

During the 2015 season – his only season at the Academy – Cowles helped guide the Falcons to the Mountain West Men's Cross Country championship, while also developing two NCAA Division I Cross Country All-Americans – Kyle Eller and Hannah Everson. Everson was the first All-American in program history for the women's squad.

Prior to his time at Air Force, Cowles spent two seasons at Barton County Community College as a cross country and track and field assistant coach. He developed 2014 NJCAA individual cross country champion Lydia Mato and over his two seasons he also coached 16 NJCAA National Champions and 24 NJCAA Track & Field All-Americans.
 
Cowles also spent three seasons as an assistant cross country and track and field coach at Idaho State University focusing on all steeplechase, 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter student-athletes. He guided Audrey Urlacher to a Big Sky Championship in the 5,000-meter run in 2011 and also a seventh-place finish at the USATF Junior National Championships.
 
While in Pocatello, Idaho, Cowles also guided five women's and four men's NCAA West Regional Track & Field Qualifiers.  In his first year at Idaho State, Erica Wendt-Richardson became the first women's cross country runner to win the Big Sky Cross Country championship. That same year, the Bengal women placed third at the Big Sky championships.

"I would like to thank Athletic Director (Dr. Joel) Erdmann and coach Bruske for this opportunity. I am excited to begin work with the South Alabama team," Cowles said. "I have followed the program the last couple of years as they have had success in the Sun Belt and on the national level."

After growing up on Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, Cowles earned his Bachelors of Science in American History from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2009 and his Masters of Physical Education in Sports Administration and Leadership from Idaho State in 2011.

As a student-athlete, Cowles earned eight varsity letters as a Division I long distance runner and competed in six Mountain West cross country and track and field championships were he recorded two podium finishes. Cowles was a runner-up at the 2008 Drake Relays in the 10,000 meters. His career best in the 10,000 meters was 30:31 at the 2009 Mt. SAC Relays, while his best in the 5,000 meters was 14:35 and his best in the 3,000 meters was 8:33.

Both the men's and women's track and field teams finished fifth at the Sun Belt Outdoor Conference Championships last season. The cross country team's next meet is Sept. 30 at Greater Louisville Classic.