PEORIA, Ill. - Having served as the head coach of the Bradley University cross country and track and field programs for the past 16 seasons, David Beauchem has resigned from his position in order to pursue new opportunities, Director of Athletics Dr. Michael Cross announced today.
"I want to thank Coach Beauchem for his many years of service to Bradley Athletics," said Dr. Cross. "His teams have excelled in the classroom and in the community while competing at a high level."
"I want to thank Bradley University for giving me an opportunity back in 1994 to begin my career as a head coach," said Beauchem. "My 16 years have been very rewarding, and now as I move forward in the next step in my career, I want to thank the student-athletes who made the commitment to our program."
Beauchem was the head coach of the first Bradley University women's program in any sport to earn a Missouri Valley Conference championship when he led the Braves to a share of the 1998 MVC women's cross country title at Newman Golf Course, earning him 1998 Valley Coach-of-the-Year honors. During his 16 years on The Hilltop, Beauchem coached 35 all-conference performers, 12 in cross country, and four NCAA Championship qualifiers, led by six-time qualifier Mary Ellen Hill. Hill also is included in a group of runners who combined to capture 10 Valley track and field individual titles during Beauchem's career.
Beauchem's teams were leaders in the academic success of Bradley student-athletes throughout his tenure. Both the men's and women's cross country teams annually were at the top of the list of representatives on the Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll and his programs produced six Academic All-Americans® and national scholar-athletes, while his 2003 and 2005 women's cross country teams recorded the nation's best grade point average among NCAA Division I programs.
In addition to his work at Bradley, Beauchem served as a regional representative and officer on the National Collegiate Division I Track Coaches Association from 1998-2006. He also spearheaded the efforts as Bradley hosted three NCAA Cross Country Midwest Regionals (1996, 2004 and 2007).
Bradley University will launch an immediate national search to find Beauchem's replacement.
