Bradley Sowder was named Head Coach of the Men's and Women's cross country and track & field programs before the 2022 season.
2023 ... Coach Sowder led the women to their fourth straight MSC Title and to the best team finish at the NAIA National Championships in program history, placing ninth overall. Sowder had two All-American finishers including Alina Boshchuk who finished ninth, and Heather Durrant who placed 30th. At the MSC Champiosnhips, Boshchuk earned Runner and Freshman of the Year honors behind her first-place finish, while five other Patriots earned All-MSC honors for placing inside the top-10.
2022 ... (MSC Coach of the Year): Sowder led the women to a Mid-South Conference Championship, their third in a row. The squad qualified for NAIA Nationals, and tied the program best finish as they placed 23rd. There were six All-Conference runners on the team this year, including a second place finish out of Emily Bird who was named MSC Freshman of the Year.
Sowder comes to Cumberlands after spending six years at Spalding University, serving as the Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach for the final five years. There Sowder guided the Eagles' program to conference and national success. Sowder led Spalding to three SLIAC Cross Country titles, including the first women's cross country conference championship in program history in 2015. While there he was named SLIAC Coach of the Year twice.
Before joining the Eagles staff, Sowder spent three years as the Head Men's Cross Country and Assistant Track Coach at Eastern High School. He also served as a Volunteer Assistant Coach at the University of Louisville during the 2010-11 season. Sowder has served as a student minister for Middle School, High School, and College students at the Shelby Christian Church.
Sowder competed at Cumberlands from 2000-2004 before continuing his education at the University of Kentucky, where he graduated with a Bachelor in Arts of Education with a major in Kinesiology and Health Promotion.
