ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Head coach Joe Franklin and the University of New Mexico track & field/cross country program have filled out its staff for the 2015-16 season with the addition of James Butler, Jade Ellis and Laura Bowerman.
Butler and Bowerman are serving as New Mexico’s assistant cross country and distance coaches, with Ellis taking over as Lobo track & field’s horizontal jumps/short sprints coach and recruiting coordinator.
The Lobos’ new additions join Franklin, associate track & field head coach Rodney Zuyderwyk and assistant cross country/track coach Dr. Richard Ceronie.
Butler, an Albuquerque native and Eldorado High School alum, returns to UNM after four years coaching cross country/distance at UMKC and three years as a graduate assistant at New Mexico.
During his tenure at UMKC, Butler has helped guide current Lobo and former Kangaroo Courtney Frerichs to a number of accolades, including five All-American honors, five WAC titles and a pair of Summit League titles.
Frerichs, who came to New Mexico with Butler to finish her final season of collegiate eligibility, was a two-time cross-country All-American and was the runner-up in the steeplechase at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Additionally, Frerichs (2012) and Bryce Miller (2014) garnered spots on the U.S. IAAF Junior World Championship squad in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Prior to UMKC, Butler coached with the Lobos. After serving two years as a graduate assistant at UNM in 2009 and 2010 while coaching the men’s and women’s track and cross country, Butler moved to a part-time position with the Lobos during his third year, coaching middle distance and cross country.
Butler, who has a bachelor’s’ degree in Computer Science from Wake Forest, completed a masters degree in Sport Administration from New Mexico.
Ellis comes to New Mexico after a two-year stint as the horizontal and vertical jumps coach at Northern Arizona University.
While at NAU, Ellis’ jumpers soared to record setting heights while winning six individual conference titles. Combined with 18 conference scorers, the NAU men’s and women’s track and field teams were able to secure six conference titles during Ellis’ tenure.
Ellis also coached All-American high jumper Deante Kemper at Northern Arizona. Under Ellis’ tutelage, Kemper finished fourth at the 2015 NCAA Indoor track and field championships, set the indoor and outdoor school records, won three conference titles, and competed at the 2015 USATF Outdoor Championships and 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Prior to NAU, Ellis spent two years with the University of Michigan men’s track & field program coaching the jumpers and combined events.
Ellis is a 2009 graduate of Duke University where he was the 2009 ACC long jump champion and triple jump runner up.
Bowerman begins her first season as an assistant coach at UNM after a stop at Florida State as a volunteer assistant coach.
Prior to her role at Florida State, she worked in the endurance sports industry with IRONMAN in Tampa, Fla., and has had previous sports marketing and event management roles for USA Track & Field and for the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Bowerman completed her undergraduate education at Florida State where she earned degrees in psychology and geography and competed for the Seminoles in cross country and track. She earned the Florida State’s first ACC Freshman of the Year accolade and was an NCAA regional track qualifier in the 5000 meters. Bowerman earned All-ACC honors in the 10000.
Bowerman went on to earn a master’s degree in Sports Administration at UNM, where she ran for the Lobos and earned All-Mountain West honors in the 5000. In Albuquerque, she coached cross country for a season at Volcano Vista High School.