Southwestern Community College's head cross country coaching vacancy has been filled by Kansas-native Trey Bruton.

Most recently, Bruton was employed as a cross country coach and adjunct instructor for MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL.

Bruton began his coaching career at NCAA Division I Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL, as a volunteer coach for cross country and track and field, while working toward his master's degree. He worked closely with the mid-distance and distance athletes, as well as the pole vault and high jump athletes. During his time with the Leathernecks, they produced several NCAA West Region qualifiers, one NCAA championship qualifier, and an NCAA All-American in the triple jump.

Southwestern Athletic Director Todd Lorensen is relieved to have the position filled and is anxious to see what Bruton does with the program.

"Southwestern has been able to attract a number of strong cross country athletes in recent years," Lorensen explained. "My hope is that Trey will be able to step in, take that base, and help the program grow in the coming years."

Bruton comes to Southwestern with running as well as coaching experience.

Competitively, Bruton holds a personal record of 1:11:58 in the half marathon, has qualified for the Boston Marathon twice, and still competes regularly. As a collegiate athlete, Bruton was a six-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national qualifier--three times in cross country and three times in track & field--at Southwestern College in Winfield, KS. Bruton, who ran for NAIA Hall of Fame Coach Jim Helmer, was named to the KCAC all-conference teams two consecutive years in cross country and three consecutive years in track & field. He earned honors as a track & field Academic All-American in 2014.

In addition to his head coaching position, Bruton will serve as assistant coach for track and field alongside Head Coach Jordan Strofaci.

Bruton earned a master's degree in physics from Western Illinois University and a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, with a minor in business administration, from Southwestern College.