University of the Cumberlands Athletics

Bradley Sowder enters his fifth season as Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at the University of the Cumberlands. Since taking over the program, Sowder has guided the Patriots to four NAIA team national championships, three NAIA Men's Program of the Year honors, 21 Mid-South Conference team championships, 185 NAIA All-America honors, 19 individual national championships, and 137 individual Mid-South Conference titles.

Coaching Experience

• University of the Cumberlands – Director of Track & Field/Cross Country (2023-Present)
• Spalding University
• Eastern High School
• University of Louisville
• Lexington Christian Academy

University of the Cumberlands Highlights

Team Success

• 2026 NAIA Men's Outdoor Track & Field National Champions
• 2025 NAIA Women's Indoor Track & Field National Champions (first in program history)
• 2024 NAIA Men's Indoor Track & Field National Champions (first in program history)
• 2024 NAIA Men's Outdoor Track & Field National Champions
• Three consecutive NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship podium finishes (2023, 2024, 2025)
• Three consecutive NAIA Men's Program of the Year awards (2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26)
• 2023-24 NAIA Women's Program of the Year Runner-Up
• 21 Mid-South Conference team championships

Athlete Development

• 185 NAIA All-Americans
• 19 Individual National Champions (Relays counting as 1)
• 137 Mid-South Conference Individual Champions

National Champions

2026

• Tavon Davis – Indoor 600m, Outdoor 400m
• Luca Madeo – Indoor 5,000m, Outdoor 10,000m
• Heather Durrant – Outdoor 5,000m Race Walk
• Lucien Beardsley – Outdoor 5,000m Race Walk
• Jordan Afolayan, Willy Mabena, Eddie van Wyk & Aarontae Wesley – Outdoor 4x100 Relay

2025

• Luca Madeo – Indoor 5,000m, Outdoor 10,000m
• Youssef Asslouj – Indoor 3,000m
• Iloba Godspower, Cam Andrews, Kerrington Eubanks, Jaysaun Smith & Roderick Soto – Outdoor 4x400 Relay

2024

• Luca Santorum – Indoor Mile, Indoor 1,000m, Outdoor 1,500m
• Dillan Melchiore – Indoor 3,000m Race Walk, Outdoor 5,000m Race Walk
• Heather Durrant – Indoor 3,000m Race Walk
• Alina Boshchuk – Outdoor 10,000m
• Youssef Asslouj – Indoor 3,000m

Coaching Honors

• 2x NAIA Men's Outdoor National Coach of the Year (2024, 2026)
• NAIA Men's Indoor National Coach of the Year (2024)
• USTFCCCA Men's Outdoor National Coach of the Year (2026)
• USTFCCCA Men's Indoor National Coach of the Year (2024)
• 13 Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year awards
  • 5 Men's Track & Field
  • 4 Women's Track & Field
  • 3 Men's Cross Country
  • 1 Women's Cross Country

Previous Coaching Success

Spalding University

• One NAIA All-American
• Two SLIAC Coach of the Year awards
• 10 SLIAC Individual Conference Champions

Personal

Bradley is married to Misty, and they have two children, Makenzie and Elliot. A former Patriot student-athlete from 2000-04, Sowder earned his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotion from the University of Kentucky.