Connor Bracken joined the Eastern Oregon University Track & Field squad ahead of the 2018-19 academic year where he spent the first two years with EOU as the graduate assistant coach and since then as an assistant coach. Prior to joining the Mountaineers, Bracken competed as a sprinter/hurdler at Azusa Pacific University for four years.
While with EOU, Bracken coaches the Mountaineer hurdlers, sprinters, jumpers, and multi’s while also handling the strength program for these events and the distance squad. In his time at EOU Bracken has sent 97 athletes to the NAIA National Meet and produced 24 All-Americans including 2 National Champions.Â
During his 6 years as a coach for EOU, Bracken has seen 21 program records fall throughout the sprints/jumps in the indoor men's 200m, 400m, 60m, and 4x400 and outdoor 4x100, 400m, 4x400m. As well as the indoor women’s 60m, 200m, 400m, 600m, 60H, Pent, Triple Jump, and Long Jump and outdoor 100m, 200m, Long Jump, Triple Jump, and heptathlon. Bracken has also been named the USTFCCCA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year five times throughout his time at EOU.
While at APU, Bracken was a major contributor to the Cougars team. Bracken posted career-bests of 52.32 in the 400mh, 14.74 in the 100mh, and 8.15 in the 60mh. He was a six-time conference placer in the 110-meter high hurdles and the 400-meter hurdles and concluded his career as a Division II National Qualifier in the 400 hurdles. Bracken also received academic awards from both the USTFCCCA and the NCAA Division II while competing for the Cougars.
Bracken graduated from Azusa Pacific in Spring 2018 with a Bachelor's degree in Applied Exercise Science and graduated from Eastern Oregon University in Summer 2020 with a Master’s degree in Education with a concentration in curriculum development. Bracken holds two certifications in the field of strength and conditioning: The CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the CES (Corrective Exercise Specialist) through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Bracken and his wife Faith live in La Grande with their two dogs Coco and Stacy.
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Coaching Awards:
2022 Indoor USTFCCCA West Regional Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
2022 Outdoor USTFCCCA West Regional Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
2023 Indoor USTFCCCA West Regional Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
2024 Indoor USTFCCCA West Regional Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
2024 Outdoor USTFCCCA West Regional Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
* - COVID-shortened season… No Outdoor Championships
