CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois director of track and field Tom Akers has announced the hiring of Erin Howarth as the Panthers new cross country coach. A current assistant coach at New Mexico, Howarth will serve as the Panthers cross country coach as well as work with middle distance and distance runners for the EIU track team.

Howarth has spent the past three years working in the same position at New Mexico where she has coached six All-American runners during her tenure with the Lobos. In 2008 she helped guide the women's cross country program to the Mountain West Conference Championship. The team would place second in the NCAA Mountain Region Championships and place 18th at the NCAA Championships.

Prior to her time at New Mexico Howarth worked as an assistant coach at Butler coaching two All-American distance runners. During her two years she helped the Bulldogs capture back-to-back Horizon League cross country championships.

A native of New Lenox, Ill., the former Erin Kelly was a distance runner at Butler from 1996-99 earning her degree in 2000. She was a four-time first team All-Horizon League selection in cross country and upon graduation held the school record in the outdoor 5,000 meters.