MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois Athletics proudly announced the hiring of Trey Brokaw as the head coach for both the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams, the department released Tuesday (Aug. 17).
"Trey's leadership and experience are exactly what we need for the cross country and track and field programs," said WIU Director of Athletics Danielle Surprenant. "He has a history of success, both athletically and academically, and has significant recruiting experience, especially here in the Midwest. Trey has such a strong vision for these programs, and I'm excited to see where we can go under his direction."
Brokaw arrived back in his hometown of Macomb following a three-year stint at the University of Akron, where he acted as the head women's cross country coach, assistant track and field coach, and recruiting coordinator. He coached his athletes to four Mid-American Conference team championship titles in track and field. Three such athletes qualified for the NCAA championships, while Brokaw directed them to six school records and other distance runners to seven individual conference titles.
"I was born and raised in the Macomb area," he noted. "Being able to lead this cross country and track and field program is a dream come true! Western Illinois has a great tradition of excellence in athletics, and I look forward to expanding on that tradition in the years to come. I want to thank Danielle Surprenant and the rest of the administration for giving me this opportunity. I'd also like to thank the community and student-athletes in Akron, Ohio, who made the last three years so special for my wife and I."
From 2017-18, Brokaw held the role of recruiting coordinator for cross country and track and field at the University of Nebraska. Having traveled internationally for recruiting and spending ample time in fifteen different countries, he helped solidify one of the most vital signing classes in program history in 2018, with over 40 athletes from three different continents. Brokaw's top signee, George Kusche of South Africa, was a 2018 and 2019 NCAA qualifier in cross country, becoming Nebraska's first NCAA qualifier in nearly a decade.
Before his time at Nebraska, Brokaw was an assistant coach, recruiting coordinator, and director of operations for the University of Northern Iowa (2013-16). His athletes won seven Missouri Valley Conference individual titles and set eight school records. Brokaw contributed to the women's cross country team winning its first conference championship title in 16 years, along with the men's track and field team winning its first conference title in a decade.
Brokaw began his coaching career as an assistant for the men and women's cross country and track and field programs at his alma mater, Emporia State University. As a four-year athlete at Emporia State, he was named team captain as a senior and helped lead a group that placed fifth at the Division II Indoor National Championships in 2011. The team followed up the feat with a fourth-place finish at the Division II Outdoor National Championships.
Brokaw obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education at Emporia State in 2012, majoring in physical education. He also purchase a Master of Science in Kinesiology, with an emphasis in exercise science, at Northern Iowa.
