Cross Country | 7/14/2023 2:25:00 PM
McPHERSON, Kan. — McPherson College has named Damien Brigham the new Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, athletic director Josh Daume announced Friday (July 14).
"After a national search, we are excited to welcome Damien to McPherson College," Daume said. "Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an ability to get the most out of his student-athletes and win at a high level. We are confident that Coach Brigham will lead our track and field and cross country programs back to the top of the KCAC."
Brigham brings nearly two decades' worth of coaching experience to McPherson College in the NAIA as well as NCAA Division I and Division II. His most recent stop was as the head cross country and track and field coach at Lane College in Jackson, Tenn.
During his two seasons with the Dragons, Brigham saw plenty of success, including leading the women's program to their first-ever HBCU Indoor National Championship this past season. Additionally, he coached O'Joshua Bunton, who became the first two-time First-Team All-American in program history, and placed second in the 100m dash at the 2022 NCAA National Championship meet.
Prior to arriving at Lane, Brigham spent three years as the assistant track and field coach at Southern Illinois University, where he coached the multi-event athletes as well as the pole vaulters.
Before his time at SIU, he made stops at a pair of NCAA Division I programs, serving as the associate head coach at Alabama A&M University and as an assistant coach at Coastal Carolina University.
Brigham also coached at McNeese State in Lake Charles, La., for three seasons and made stops at Stillman College, Texas College, and Paul Quinn College.
While at Paul Quinn, Brigham coached Adolphus Jones, who competed for Saint Kitts and Nevis at the 2008 World Championships.
A gifted athlete in his own right, Brigham was a three-time Southwest Athletic Conference Champion and competed at the NCAA National Championships while studying at Jackson State University. Following graduation in 2005, he began competing professionally, including qualifying for the World Championships in 2003 (200m) and 2005 (100m).
