Bardwell Steps Down, Locher Steps In

Everett, WA - After three seasons of overseeing the men's and women's cross country and track and field programs, Julian Bardwell has decided to step down from coaching at EvCC.  Bardwell joined the Trojans in the fall of 2017 as an assistant track coach, before assuming the head coaching responsibilities in June of 2019.  Over Julian's tenure (which includes a canceled season in 2020 and an abbreviated season in 2021 due to COVID-19) the Trojans have produced a number of podium finishes and NWAC individual champions, including 22 All Americans.  This list includes national caliber athletes including Jakobe Ford who won the first ever Triple Crown in jumping events at the NWAC Championships, winning the Long Jump, High Jump, and Triple Jump (new NWAC record 15.53 m), Drew Hill who won the 100m in 2022 and set a new school record of 10.55, and the women's 4x100m relay team that won the NWAC and set a school record of 48.76 seconds.  

"We are incredibly grateful for the commitment and sacrifice that Julian has made to this program over the last 5 years, said Athletic Director Garet Studer.  He never ceased to give everything he had to our athletes and truly put them on a stage to be successful and compete to their fullest potential.  Nearly all of our athletes improved their times or marks under Julian's coaching, even through the challenges of COVID-19, and many had or will have the opportunity to compete at the next level."

Taking over complete program oversight will be newly hired cross country and distance coach Brian Locher.  Brian was named the head cross country/distance coach just four weeks ago, but was promoted to the head coach of both cross country and track and field upon the announcement from coach Bardwell.  Brian comes to EvCC from Cuesta College in California where he led both the men's and women's cross country and track and field programs for the Cougars.  In his 15 year tenure at Cuesta, Brian was named Western State Conference Cross Country Coach of the year in 2008, 2010, 2016, and 2021 as well as the conference's track and field coach of the year in 2016.  In 2011 he was named the State coach of the year in women's cross country.  Team success include 2nd place conference finishes for the men's cross country teams in 2010, 2014 (6th in state) and 2016, 2nd place conference finishes for the women's cross country teams in 2008, 2009, and a 4th place state finish in 2011.  On the track Brian's teams won conference titles on the men's side in 2016 and added a conference title on the women's side in 2021.

"We were very excited to welcome Brian to our coaching staff, added Studer. Julian stepping down will be a loss, but we believe Brian brings an incredible amount of knowledge and leadership to build upon what Julian has done over the last five years.  We're very much looking forward to this next era of Trojan Track & Field and cross country."