ASHLAND – Mark Badowsky, Southern Oregon University's top track and field assistant for the past six seasons, will leave the Raiders to make the step up to head coach at Western Colorado University, WCU announced Monday.

While specializing in sprints, jumps and multi-events at SOU, Badowsky saw his athletes combine for 28 NAIA All-America performances since arriving in Ashland for the 2017-18 school year. He was voted the NAIA West Region Women's Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022 by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

"We're obviously super proud and appreciative of Mark and all he's done for the program," SOU head coach Grier Gatlin said. "It's bittersweet for us and we'll mis having him around, but what an opportunity."

Western Colorado is a member of the NCAA Division II's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. In 2023, the Mountaineer women finished ninth and the men 17th at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships.

SOU's school-record book is littered with Badowsky products. In 2019, he coached SOU's first long-jump national champion, Zach Beltz. Another one of his star pupils, Arianna Daniel, graduated in 2021 as a nine-time NAIA All-American and 12-time Cascade Conference champion. Abi Stevens, already one of the most successful multi-event athletes in school history through just two seasons, has attained eight All-America honors under Badowsky's watch.

Badowsky was particularly successful with women's relay teams. Prior to his arrival, the Raiders had placed top-eight nationally in the 4x100 and 4x400 just twice in school history. They've now done so eight times.

The Michigan native is a graduate of Saginaw State University and earned a master's degree from Central Michigan. He was an assistant for two seasons at Boise State before joining Gatlin's staff.