WICHITA, Kan. – Tracy Jex has been named the new Friends University cross country head coach, VP of Athletics & Strategic Expansion Dr. Rob Ramseyer has announced.
Already familiar with the landscape, Jex's most recent experience was serving as the assistant cross country/track & field coach at fellow KCAC member McPherson College since the 2022 season. A highlight of Jex's tenure at McPherson was helping to qualify the program's first distance runner to the NAIA Indoor and Outdoor National Championship since 2016.
"We're excited to welcome Tracy to Friends University," said Ramseyer. "He brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record of success throughout his career. Just as important, his coaching philosophy and leadership approach align closely with our values—it's who he is too. Tracy and Henry will make a great team as they lead and grow our programs together."
Before arriving at McPherson, Jex enjoyed a successful tenure as the head cross country and track & field coach at Columbia College (Mo.). In his six seasons at Columbia, Jex guided both the cross country and track & field teams to 10 American Midwest Conference championships. In 2017, Jex guided the cross country team to a runner-up showing at the NAIA National Championship meet and the program was named the USTFCCCA NAIA Men's Cross Country Scholar Team of the Year. He was then selected as the USTFCCCA South Central Women's Cross Country Head Coach of the Year for the 2021 season.
Jex served a critical role in starting the first track & field program at Columbia, as he was an assistant coach and mentored the first-ever NAIA All-American in school history.
His career also includes cross country/track & field head coaching stops at Hannibal-LaGrange University (2011-15), Mead High School in Longmont, Colo. (2009-10) and Colorado Christian University (2007-09) while serving as head cross country coach and assistant track & field coach at Longmont (Colo.) High School from 2002-06.
Jex coached Hannibal LaGrange's men's cross country team (second) and women's team (third) to their highest ever conference finishes.
He also started a cross country team at the newly formed Mead High School and coached multiple All-State runners at his high school coaching stops along with mentoring the first-ever NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) All-American in program history at Colorado Christian.
This past year the Falcon cross country teams each posted top five finishes at the KCAC Championship meet (Nov. 9).
"I'm excited about joining the Friends University Community," said Jex. "I look forward to working with the student athletes and coaching staff who have built a tremendous culture and tradition. Thanks to Coach Brun, Rob and Dr. Carey for this opportunity."
