BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The BGSU cross country/track & field program has hired Rachel Rhynard as the associate head cross country & assistant track coach.

Rhynard (formerly McFarlane) comes to Bowling Green having last served as a cross country/track assistant coach with both the men's and women's teams at Boise State University from 2022-24.

While with the Broncos, Rhynard helped mentor the 2023 Mountain West Conference Cross Country Freshman of the Year as well as a 2022 NCAA All-American in cross country and multiple national qualifiers.

She also coached a Mountain West Conference individual champion in track in 2022.

"I am excited to announce that Rachel will be joining the Bowling Green cross country/track & field staff," BGSU head cross country/track coach Lou Snelling said. "She will have an immediate and positive impact on our program, playing an important role in almost every area.  She brings a wealth of experience to the staff, having a deep background in the region and Mid-American Conference. I would like to thank President Rodney Rogers and Vice President for Athletics Strategy and Director of Athletics Derek van der Merwe for making a hire of this quality possible."

Prior to Boise State, Rhynard was the associate head coach for the cross country and track teams at Ball State University from 2018-20.

In her time with the Cardinals, she helped the cross country team to its best finish at the MAC Championships since 2007. She also coached the squad to a top 15 USTFCCCA Great Lakes Regional ranking for the first time in over a decade.

Rhynard also served as an assistant cross country/track coach at the University of North Florida from 2016-18, helping the Ospreys achieve two Atlantic Sun cross country championships. She also coached the 2016 ASUN men's cross country individual champion and the 2016 and 2017 ASUN women's cross country individual champion.

Additionally, UNF had a student-athlete qualify for the 2017 NCAA Women's Cross Country Championships, 2017 and 2018 NCAA Track & Field Championships and achieve NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Second-Team All-America honors during Rhynard's tenure.

The Livonia, Mich. native first got her start in coaching at Lansing Catholic High School in Lansing, Mich. where she was an assistant cross country and track coach from 2013-16, helping the boys cross country team to an MHSAA Division 3 title in 2015 and mentored four individual state champions.

While at Lansing Catholic, Rhynard was also in the same position at Lansing Community College where she assisted the Stars to an NJCAA Division I women's cross country championship in 2015 and coached 13 student-athletes to All-America honors.

A combined seven-time letterwinner in cross country and track & field at Michigan State University from 2009-13, Rhynard helped lead the Spartans to back-to-back Big Ten cross country titles in 2010 and 2011. She also participated in the 2011 and 2012 NCAA Cross Country Championships and received second-team All-Big Ten honors in both cross country and indoor track & field.

She closed out her collegiate career running in the 5,000m at the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East Preliminary Round and held the school record for the indoor DMR and outdoor 4x1,500m relay.

An accomplished prep runner at Livonia Churchill High School, Rhynard earned all-state honors for three consecutive years and guided her team to a runner-up finish at the state championship.

Rhynard graduated from Michigan State in 2013 with a degree in kinesiology. She also obtained a Master's in sport administration from Ball State in 2020.

Rhynard holds her level 1 USATF Coach Certification. She and her husband, Caleb, have two children.

"I'm excited to join BGSU and work with the men's and women's distance runners," Rhynard said. "This opportunity allows me to contribute to the continued success of the program both on and off the track. Returning to the Midwest, I look forward to the challenges ahead and am dedicated to helping the team reach its full potential."

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT RACHEL RHYNARD
"I'm excited to hear Rachel is joining Coach Snelling's staff. She has been a great mentor for aspiring cross country/track & field student-athletes. Rachel's journey as a student-athlete, coach and parent has given her great experience necessary to teach how to persevere, grow and succeed as a competitive athlete. I'm sure she will be a tremendous asset to Coach Snelling's outstanding program." -- Walt Drenth, former Michigan State University director of track & field/cross country

"Coach Snelling has made a great hire bringing on Rachel. I know Rachel to be a catalyst to success and cohesive group dynamics. Her championship pedigree and competitive spirit are a perfect match for Bowling Green's staff and athletes as a whole, and I'm super happy for her and her family." -- Brian Etelman, former Ball State University head cross country/track coach

"Rachel is a fantastic coach. She was a very good college runner and has taken her passion to coaching. She is great with all aspects of training and racing, and there is something special about her approach. When she was first hired at North Florida, we had a huge void to fill. Seven years later, I am still regularly referring to things I learned from her. She made all of us better." -- Jeff Pigg, University of North Florida's director of cross country/track & field

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