NASHVILLE - Joe Frye, Trevecca Nazarene University Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, welcomes Kate Bucknam as the Cross Country Head Coach and the Assistant Coach for Distance Runners on the track and field side.

Bucknam is Frye's first addition to the staff. She joins Trevecca after working with Kansas State's distance program. On Aug. 2, 2024, Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Travis Geopfert named her Kansas State's head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach.

"We are entering a new era for our cross country program, and Kate Bucknam is a key part of that future," Trevecca Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Joe Frye said. "Beyond her proven success as a technical coach at multiple levels, she has a deep commitment to holistic athlete development and mentorship. Our current and future runners want to be challenged and mentored by leaders who see them as whole people, and Kate embodies that servant-leadership mindset. Welcoming Coach Bucknam to our staff is a significant win for Trevecca."

Bucknam also coached at Syracuse and Belmont. At Belmont, she and Frye served together on Jeff Langdon's coaching staff. After redshirting her first year, Bucknam competed at Minnesota for three seasons before completing he final year of eligibility at Lipscomb.

"Having the team of Joe Frye and Kate Bucknam leading these programs is significant for Trevecca," Trevecca Director of Athletics Mark Elliott said. "I am excited for our student-athletes to be trained, coached, and mentored by these incredible people. Kate's experience and reputation are stellar, and she gets us. Her leadership and contribution to our Christian, Scholar, Athlete philosophy will be immense and immediate."

FAYETTEVILLE ROOTS

The Fayetteville, Arkansas, native brings experience from Kansas State, Belmont and Syracuse, along with a background shaped by a lifetime around track and field.

Bucknam is the daughter of Chris and Cindy Bucknam. Her father, Chris Bucknam, was the head coach of the Arkansas men's cross country and track and field program from 2008-2025. She also has an older brother, Eric. Her father, Chris, has led the Razorbacks to national prominence with multiple NCAA national championships.

Bucknam is a 2011 graduate of Fayetteville High School in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She competed in cross country, track and field and golf and was coached by Michelle Fyfe. Bucknam was a two-time all-state runner and was part of the school-record 4x800-meter relay team at the state championships.

Fayetteville's cross country team placed third in the state during Bucknam's junior season and fourth during her senior season. As a senior, she helped Fayetteville win state championships in both golf and track and field.

Bucknam was also a member of the National Honor Society and the academic honor roll.

KANSAS STATE

At Kansas State in 2024, Bucknam coached a team featuring both experienced returners and newcomers. Tommy Hazen advanced to K-State's all-time top 25 in both the 8K and 10K, broke the school's indoor 3,000-meter record and competed at the NCAA West Preliminary in the steeplechase.

In addition to Hazen's success, Bucknam coached Jackson Esquibel, Cecilia Fisher and Grace Meyer to top-15 marks on K-State's all-time list during the 2025 cross country season. She also coached Brock Olsen to a top-nine mark in the 10,000 meters during the 2026 outdoor season.

During the 2026 track and field season, the K-State men placed fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships and finished eighth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The Wildcat women finished seventh at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

BELMONT YEARS

Prior to Kansas State, Bucknam spent seven seasons at Belmont, where she worked with the men's and women's cross country and track and field programs. The Belmont women's cross country team claimed two conference titles in three seasons, winning the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference title and the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference championship in the Bruins' second year in the Missouri Valley.

Bucknam also coached Kaitlyn Vanderkolk to NCAA South All-Region honors and an NCAA Championship appearance. Her Belmont athletes also included Kaitlyn's brother, Kevin Vandervolk, the 2024 Missouri Valley steeplechase champion and NCAA East Preliminary qualifier, and Carter Cheeseman, the 2024 Missouri Valley indoor and outdoor 5,000-meter champion and 10,000-meter champion.

FIRST COACHING SLOT AT SYRACUSE

Before her time at Belmont, Bucknam spent one season at Syracuse as an assistant cross country and track and field coach in 2016-17. During that season, the Syracuse men's cross country team won the 2016 ACC championship and finished third at the NCAA Championship. The Orange men also finished 10th at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championship.

CAREER ON THE COURSE AND TRACK

As a student-athlete, Bucknam competed collegiately at Minnesota and Lipscomb. In her final season at Lipscomb, she earned a spot on the 2015 ASUN Cross Country All-Conference First Team. She also secured 2016 ASUN Outdoor Track and Field All-Conference Second Team honors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

At Minnesota, Bucknam contributed to the program's 11th consecutive NCAA national cross country qualifying team, distinguished herself as a Big Ten Scholar Athlete and earned Big Ten All-Academic honors in 2012 and 2014. She earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2014 and 2015, qualified for the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championship and served as a 2014 Minnesota women's cross country co-captain.

Bucknam earned her bachelor's degree in kinesiology from the University of Minnesota in 2015.

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