JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University Athletics announced familiar faces as new leaders for its track and field and cross country programs, while also making an addition to the staff.
 
Bambi Brundage, the longtime throwers coach who has worked in variety of capacities at JU continuously since 2003, steps into the role of Director of Track and Field, Jordon Garman leads the cross country and distance programs, Diego Vela returns to oversee jumps and multi-events and Jatavia Wright joins the staff as an accomplished assistant coach.
 
"Welcoming Bambi Brundage back to the track and field program was a no-brainer, and now tapping her to lead the program she is so familiar with gives us an opportunity to utilize her wealth of knowledge to take the program forward," said Senior Vice President/Athletic Director Alex Ricker-Gilbert. "Bambi is JU through and through and is undoubtedly the best choice to make this program championship-level again."
 
"I am thrilled to lead this program," said Brundage. "I appreciate Alex Ricker-Gilbert and Senior Associate AD Dee Brown for believing in me and giving me this incredible opportunity.  
 
"JU is my family and my home," she continued. "This institution aligns with my values and continues to give me the opportunity to grow professionally and personally. I am excited to lead this team and create a culture of excellence among our student athletes."
 
Brundage takes over as the head coach of the program she helped win 20 conference championships in her first stint as an assistant, and most recently made her return to the coaching ranks this past season, once again working with the throwers. She excelled in as an athlete herself at Oklahoma, being named an All-American twice after winning Big 12 Championships twice and All-Big 12 honors nine times in her illustrious career.
 
Her arrival at JU in 2003 coincided with the ascendance of the track and field program. She was a part of the record-setting 10-consecutive ASUN Conference Indoor Championships and 10-straight ASUN Outdoor Championships the program captured from 2006-16. During that dominant run, Brundage tutored 25 conference champions and 51 All-Conference performers. Three athletes went on to earn ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 49 were All-Academic performers and one was named the conference's women of the year.
 
Many found success beyond the conference stage, with 10 throwers qualifying for the NCAA Regional Championships and one heptathlete in 2004 who went on to place first in both throwing events at the NCAA Championship meet.
 
After stepping away from full-time coaching, Brundage stayed at JU and committed her service to three years in athletic administration, overseeing ticket sales, marketing and promotions, sponsorships, summer programs and served as a sport administrator.
 
She then shifted to university leadership, though stayed adjacent to athletics, as she served as the Director of Campus Recreation and Wellness until this year, when she advanced to the role of Executive Director of Student Wellness & Engagement. In her role she oversees summer camps, Campus Recreation & Wellness and Student Engagement & Leadership departments.
 
In her time both in coaching and in leadership, she has received multiple recognitions for her hard work. She has served as both a panel speaker for the Women in Coaching seminar at the 2017 USTFCCCA Convention and a mentor for the Female Coaching Program through the same organization. Additionally, she was named the 2018-19 Jacksonville University Woman of the Year.
 
"I feel a deep commitment in developing student-athletes athletically, academically, and holistically," said Brundage. "As coaches, we will provide the tools for them to choose to be the best version of themselves every day."
 
Garman assumes oversight for both men's and women's cross country programs, while also tutoring track distance runners, after serving as an assistant and head coach of the men's cross country team since 2019.
 
"We are excited at JU to have Jordan Garman taking on a larger role with our cross country programs," said Ricker-Gilbert. "He has been a great asset to our department over his time here, and we cannot wait to see what continued growth he is able to lead going forward."
 
"I would like to thank Alex and Dee for providing me with the opportunity to lead our cross country program moving forward," said Garman. "They have been extremely supportive during a time that included many challenges for our athletes and myself.
 
"I would like to thank our program's support staff for assisting in our student-athletes' ability to not only perform well athletically, but, more importantly, personally and academically. Lastly, and most importantly, I would like to thank the amazing student-athletes that I work with on a daily basis. This opportunity would not be possible without them."
 
The men's cross country program is coming off of one of its best seasons in history last year, highlighted by the team's best finish in the ASUN Championship since 2013 and an overall improvement in the average finish time of the 8K event from 30:58 in 2019 to 27:00 this past year. Overall, four members went on to race at the NCAA South Regional as well.
 
He worked with the women's program this past fall as well, and continued to promote the development of Hayleigh Haid, one of the most accomplished distance runners in JU history, as well as several younger runners who showed signs of promise throughout the season. Haid ended up First Team All-Conference at the ASUN Championships, where she posted the sixth-fastest time in championship history. She also won two events, the VSU Border Classic and the North Florida Invitational.
 
Garman started his time at JU as a member of the men's cross country team, competing as a runner in 2016 and 2017. He is a native of Stuart, Florida and completed his undergrad from North Florida before earning his master's in kinesiology from JU.
 
"This achievement reflects our athletes' discipline, passion, and love for running and life," Garman stated. "I look forward to continuing to serve them to the best of my abilities, so they can have the best experience possible.
 
"Phins ups! Phindurance!"

Vela served as the program's interim head coach this past season, and has been with JU as an assistant coach since the 2014-15 school year. He work has been extensive with the program, overseeing some of the top performers in the country in his time here. Just this past season, he guided Kristi Snyman back to the NCAA Championships for the second time, where she finished her season as an All-American in the high jump. He also played a pivitol role in multiple ASUN Indoor and Outdoor Championships during his tenure.
 
Jatavia Wright joins the staff as an assistant coach, overseeing the sprinters. She comes to JU after a season at Eastern Kentucky, where she coached sprinters and jumpers. In her one season with the Colonels, she helped several athletes on both the men's and women's teams achieve conference and national honors, highlighted by an Honorable Mention All-American in the high jump. Other competitors earned multiple podium finishes at the ASUN Outdoor Championships, including a runner-up in the 100m and a bronze in the 4x100m.
 
Prior to that, she coached for several years as an assistant, and then the interim head coach, at South Carolina State. While in Orangeburg, she tutored an NCAA Indoor Long Jump All-American, two MEAC Champions and 15 All-Conference performers. She also spent two seasons at Austin Peay, coaching up 16 Ohio Valley Conference All-Conference performances, three NCAA East Regional qualifiers and an OVC Freshman of the Year.
 
She was a standout at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, where she was the first female African-American to earn Division I NCAA All-American status for the triple jump in both indoor and outdoor. She still holds four school records. She transferred to Western Kentucky, where she continued her success, earning four Conference USA All-Conference honors, qualifying for the NCAA East Regionals twice and making an appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 4x100m. She also played softball for the Hilltoppers as a utility player during her time there.