September 20, 2006
Release courtesy of Larry Happel, Central College sports information director

PELLA, IOWA . . . Jeff Bovee has resigned as men’s and women’s cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at Central College to accept a similar position at Illinois State University.

Dutch assistants Stephen Fyfe, Jay Rhoten and Bryan George will handle the coaching responsibilities for the remainder of the season, according to athletics director Al Dorenkamp.

“We’re fortunate to have some solid assistant coaches who are willing to step up and continue to help our young people grow and develop,” Dorenkamp said.

Fyfe is in his eighth season on the Dutch staff. A 1987 Central graduate, Fyfe earned three varsity letters in cross country and four in track and field. He continues to run competitively and has completed seven marathons. Fyfe serves as an assistant professor of computer science at Central.

Rhoten, a former all-America honoree in the decathlon before graduating from Central in 1998, is in his first year as cross country assistant and is entering his second year on the track and field staff. He’s a three-time Iowa Conference men’s track and field MVP.

George is in his first year as a volunteer assistant. A 2006 Central graduate, George was an all-conference performer in cross country last season. He earned all-America honors in indoor track and field, was a track and field co-captain and was voted the squad’s MVP. George was also named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America track and field team.

Bovee was in his fourth season at Central. The Dutch climbed to third-place finishes in both the men’s and women’s Iowa Conference races last year and are off to a strong start this season. They’ll be back in action Saturday at the Roy Griak Invitational at St. Paul, Minn. Bovee will be with the team this weekend before departing.

The college will move quickly in seeking a replacement, Dorenkamp said.

“We’ve already begun making some calls,” he said. “We’ll advertise the position soon and we hope to have someone on board by the beginning of next semester (January). But we also want to make sure we have the right person for the job, so if it takes longer than that, we’ll be patient.”

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