Fontbonne hires Barker as new cross country/track coach

June 28, 2011 - The Fontbonne University athletic department is pleased to announce its hired Jeffery Barker as its new head men's and women's cross country and track and field coach.

"Fontbonne University is pleased to welcome Coach Jeff Barker to the Fontbonne family," Fontbonne University Director of Athletics Maria Eftink said.  "We are excited about the future of the cross country and track and field programs under Coach Barker's leadership."

Coach Barker comes to Fontbonne from Kansas Wesleyan University where he has served as the head cross country and track and field coach since 2007. Coach Barker was named the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He was also named the KCAC Women's Indoor Track Coach of the Year in 2011. Coach Barker's women's cross country teams at Kansas Wesleyan won the KCAC championships in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

"I am very excited for the opportunity to be a part of the Fontbonne community," Coach Barker said. "It is a honor to work for such a great university. I plan to work very hard to build a successful cross country and track program. "

Prior to Kansas Wesleyan, Coach Barker was the head cross country and distance track coach at Calumet College of St. Joseph. Coach Barker began his coaching career at Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana as the assistant cross country and track coach.

Coach Barker has a USATF Level 1 coaching certification and a Bachelor of Science – Human Service & Social Work degree from Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana.