Bridget Bowers
	Position: Assistant Coach

Bridget Bowers is in her third season as an assistant coach at American University. Bowers is largely responsible for the training of the women's team which has seen steady improvement since her arrival.

Bowers first came to AU as a graduate assistant and served in that role from 1995-97 before returning as an assistant coach prior to the 2006-07 season. Last year she helped lead AU's women's team to a fourth-place finish at the Patriot League Cross Country Championships, marking the team's highest finish at the meet since 2003. Seniors Cathleen Ford and Kate Lilley were each named First Team All-PL for their finishes of second and seventh, respectively. Bowers also helped coach Ford to her first conference championship in the indoor 3000 last year and to First Team All-PL honors in the outdoor 5000.

Between coaching stints at American, Bowers lived in Denver, Col., and worked for the YMCA as a health fitness specialist. She was also an independent personal trainer/coach and was a manager for a company that specialized in continuing health/medical education.

A 1992 graduate of Providence College, Bowers was a four-year letter winner on the Friar cross country and track and field teams. In 1990 she was a scoring member of the Providence cross country team which placed second at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Bowers was also the indoor 5000 meter New England Champion in 1991 and set the 10k school record that same year. An All-New England honoree in cross country, indoor and outdoor track, Bowers was also named a Big East Academic All-Star.

Bowers holds a Master of Science in health and fitness management/health promotion from American, is a USATF-certified Level 1 coach and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. She currently resides in Arlington, Va.