David Beauchem completed four seasons as head cross country/track and field coach at Western Illinois University before stepping down in June 2014. Beauchem oversaw both the men's and women's programs.
The 2013-14 year was a landmark season for Leatherneck track and field as the program saw its first Division I All-American (Second Team) in senior high jumper Jamario Taylor. Taylor finished 12th in the high jump at the outdoor national meet in Eugene, Ore. The 2013-14 Leatherneck men and women also boasted seven All-Summit League members including three conference champions (Justin Kilpatrick, Xavier Levy, Glenn Powell). Besides Taylor, Western also sent senior thrower (hammer) Nathaniel Marshall to the NCAA regional championship and eventually the national championship where he finished 21st. Senior distance runner Chelsea Lynes was recognized as Western Illinois' Senior Female Student-Athlete of the Year at the first annual WESPY's boasting a 3.968 GPA in exercise science.
During the 2012-13 season, seven Leatherneck track and field athetes earned All-League honors during the outdoor season (Cedric Cheeks, Zach Glasebrook, Nathaniel Marshall, Tyrann Murray, Glenn Powell, Jamario Taylor and Dana LaRue). Taylor once again took the crown in men's high jump. LaRue finshed tops in the shot put. Jeff Liles and Marshall represented Western Illinois as Academic All-Summit League selections for the men.
Marshall and Taylor each won their respective events during the indoor season while LaRue took home the shot put and weight throw title. Marshall also earned Academic All-Summit League honors.
During cross country season, three Leathernecks earned All-Summit League Honors for Cross Country. Michael Castel was named First Team All-Summit League while Chase Marlow was named Second Team All-League. On the women’s side, Alycia Thurston was name Second Team All-League. Academically, Andrew Hood, and Marlow were named Academic All-League on the men's side while Mackenzie Gray, Chelsea Lynes and Thurston were awarded on the women's side.
Castel and Thurston each broke program records during the cross country season at the Bradley Invitational. Castel set a new record in the 8K with a time of 24:24 while Thurston set a new record in the 6k with a time of 21:48.
Beauchem saw his teams through to much success in the 2011-12 competition season. Michael Castel garnered Summit League Second Team honors in cross country and All-League Team honors in outdoor track and field (10,000-meter).
Earning 2012 Indoor All-Summit League recognition were Chelsea Lynes (distance medley relay and one mile), Amy Byers (distance medley relay), Carianna Cottone (distance medley relay and 5,000-meter), Krystle Eskridge (distance medley relay), Dana LaRue (weight throw and shot put), Michael Crabtree (high jump) and Jamario Taylor (high jump).
Nine Leathernecks earned 2012 Outdoor All-Summit League honors including: Michael Castel (10,000-meter), Jeffrey Liles (400-meter hurdles), Jamario Taylor (high jump), Paul Hames (shot put), Nathaniel Marshall (hammer), Jordan Liles (javelin), Carianna Cottone (10,000-meter), Nichole Manning (pole vault) and Dana LaRue (shot put). Manning, Marshall, LaRue and Taylor each qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds with outdoor marks. Manning placed 20th in the pole vault prelims, Marshall took 45th in the hammer throw prelims, LaRue placed 38th in the shot put prelims and Taylor made it through the prelims and finished 20th in the high jump finals with a mark of 6-11.25.
During the 2010 cross country season, three student-athletes (Mike McGraw, Chase Marlow and Carianna Cottone) ran at the NCAA Regional Championships. McGraw won both the WIU Early Bird Invitational (Sept. 3) and SIUE Challenge (Sept. 17) while Cottone also captured a victory at the WIU Early Bird Invitational (Sept. 3).
During the 2010-11 Track & Field season, three Fighting Leathernecks captured Summit League individual titles. During the Indoor season, Jason Crisman won the men's shot put (57’9.75”) and Nikki Klier captured the women's 400-meter dash title (55.52-new school record). Dana LaRue then won the women's shot put during the Outdoor season (46’10.25”) and Nichole Manning set the women's pole vault outdoor school record (12’11.75”).
Crisman, Klier and Manning garnered both indoor and outdoor All-Summit League honors during Beauchem's first year. Additionally, Jamario Taylor (men's high jump) was named to the indoor All-League squad while Chelsea Lynes (women's 800-meter run) and LaRue captured outdoor All-League honors. To conclude Beauchem's first season at the helm, Manning, Crisman, Klier and LaRue all qualified for the NCAA Outdoor West Region Preliminaries held at Historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.
Prior to coming to Western Illinois, Beauchem spent 16 seasons as cross country/track & field head coach at Bradley University. During his tenure at Bradley, Beauchem coached 35 All-Missouri Valley Conference performers (12 in cross country), three NCAA Championship qualifiers and 10 individuals who won conference track and field titles. Mary Ellen Hill, one of the three NCAA Championship qualifiers Beauchem coached, advanced to the national meet on six occasions.
The 1998 MVC Cross Country 'Coach of the Year', Beauchem coached the Bradley women to the conference championship that season. He oversaw Bradley playing host to three NCAA Midwest Cross Country Regional meets.
Beauchem's teams also excelled in the classroom. In 2003 and 2005, the women's cross country team was recognized for the nation's best grade point average among NCAA Division I programs. He coached six Academic All-Americans and national scholar-athletes.
Beauchem served a two-year term with the NCAA Division I Track and Field Committee from 2008-2010. His responsibilities included serving on the NCAA Track & Field Rules Committee and as the Sub-Committee Chair for the 2009 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship. From 2000-06 he was Treasurer for the United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) and spent three years as a Conference/Regional Representative.
Beauchem served as a Graduate Assistant Coach at Florida State from 1991-93. In 1993-94, he was a Volunteer Assistant Coach at the University of Illinois and then began his tenure at Bradley University in the Fall of 1994. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Southern Illinois in 1990 and then his Master's from FSU in 1993.
David and his wife Vicky have three sons, Justin, Payton Haight and Isaac and a daughter, Marly.
