Kansas Wesleyan names Jeffery Barker to lead Cross Country and Track programs
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan University announces the hiring of Jeffery Barker as the University’s new Cross Country and Track and Field coach.

Barker replaces Zach Kindler who left KWU to take a similar position at Baker University in Baldwin City.

“Being given the opportunity to coach cross country/ track at KWU is very exciting,” Barker said. “The athletic programs at KWU have been extremely successful within the KCAC and NAIA. I hope to continue this tradition of excellence and take the program to even higher level of success. I am looking forward to being a part of the KWU family for years.”

Barker comes to Kansas Wesleyan from Calumet College at St. Joseph (Ind.), where he was most recently the head distance track coach and assistant cross country coach. He also held a similar concurrent position at Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana.

He said the commitment to the development of the whole person at KWU attracted him to the Salina campus.

“The commitment to excellence academically and athletically was a major attraction for me to come to KWU,” he said. “The institution is concerned with development of the whole person.  I believe in incorporating the same philosophies in coaching cross country and track athletes. Having a sound purpose in your daily activities will ultimately lead to successful student-athletes which is my goal: Develop great runners but more importantly great people.”

Before being named head distance coach and assistant cross country coach at Calumet, Barker was named the program’s first head cross country coach in June, 2005. By August of that year, he had recruited 10 student-athletes, including a national qualifier for the NAIA Championships that season.

Barker earned degrees in Criminal Justice and Human Service and Social Work from Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., after excelling at Bishop Noll Institute High School.

At Saint Joseph’s, he was named a team captain and recruiting leader in the 2002-2003 season.

At Bishop Noll Institute, he was named the 1998-99 Athlete of the Year, while earning several individual honors, including Honorable Mention All-State honors in 1998, and he was the LAC Conference Champion in 1998, setting a course record of 15:50 for the 5K race. He went on to earn LAC Champion honors in the 3200m and was the IHSAA Sectional Champion in the 3200m.

“Jeffery is a great fit for Kansas Wesleyan,” KWU Director of Athletic Programs Matthew Williams said. “He is a highly motivated individual that is dedicated to continuing the success of our cross country and track programs at KWU.”

“He has proven himself as a great recruiter from his experiences at Calumet College, and will use that experience to build the cross country and track programs to be strong programs at KWU.”

Barker is committed to building his programs based on the recent success in both cross country and track at KWU.

“One of my favorite quotes is ‘If what we did last year still looks good this year, then are we really doing what it takes to get better?’. We are going to work very hard to develop a program that cross country/track athletes want to be a part of daily. Once the program has purpose, the passion will grow, and the athletes will love being a part of something truly special.”

Barker begins his duties at KWU immediately.

-- KWU SI --