LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Chase Broughton, a former All-American and assistant coach at the University of Southern Indiana, has been hired as the Men's Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach at Bellarmine University, Director of Athletics Scott Wiegandt announced Friday.

Broughton is taking over for Bellarmine Athletics Hall of Famer Jim Vargo, a longtime Bellarmine coach and former Knights star athlete who is retiring from the position.

"My philosophy as a coach directly aligns with the Bellarmine athletics philosophy of developing the 'whole student,' " Broughton said. "I believe it's important to develop the student-athletes we coach as great people first and student-athletes second. Success finds those who work for it and deserve it, and I believe the student-first approach embraced by Bellarmine shows me that they deserve success. I believe that with the foundation Coach Vargo has laid this program could become a consistent contender at the conference and national level.

"I'm excited to get started," Broughton added. "I want to thank Scott Wiegandt for this opportunity and (Men's/Women's Cross Country/Track & Field Head Coach) Mike Hillyard at Southern Indiana for everything he's done for me in my college career and my coaching career."

Broughton spent the last two seasons as an assistant cross country and track and field coach at Southern Indiana. USI's men's cross country team captured the GLVC Championships title both seasons, as well as earned berths in the NCAA Championships both years. The Screaming Eagles' women's cross country team secured the GLVC Championships title in 2017.

Including track and field honors, Broughton coached 38 All-GLVC, 12 All-Midwest Region and two All-American award winners the last two years.

Broughton was a highly acclaimed student-athlete at Southern Indiana. Between cross country and track and field, he amassed five All-America accolades, 11 All-Midwest Region acknowledgements and nine All-GLVC plaudits. He was a six-time conference champion. In addition, Broughton earned Academic All-America honors and was named GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for men's cross country for 2016.

Broughton earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in sports management from USI, doing so in the spring of 2016 and the summer of 2017. He finished the master's program with a 4.0 GPA.

"Chase began his career at USI as a walk-on and left as a five-time All-American. It takes a special kind of work ethic, drive and passion to accomplish that type of feat," Wiegandt said. "However, he wasn't just a distinguished athlete; he was an exemplary student as well. He fits and values the Bellarmine model and will expect no less from his student-athletes as a coach at Bellarmine. Both as an athlete and then a coach, Chase made significant contributions to USI programs that have experienced great success. He has a bright future as a coach, and we're proud to welcome him into the Bellarmine Family."

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