Chris Gafner,  Head Coach
Cross Country, Track & Field Coach
Office: (812) 888-5178
email: cgafner@vinu.edu

  Chris Gafner begins his first full-season as head coach of the VU men’s and women’s Cross Country and Track & Field programs.

            He took over the positions in March of 2006 after three years as an assistant coach to Denny Myers.

            Prior to arriving in Vincennes , Chris was an assistant coach at Lansing , Mich. , Community College.   He also coached at Mt. Vernon Academy in Salt Lake City , Utah .

            He is a 2001 graduate of Siena Heights University and also attended Lansing Community College .

            He was a seven-time national qualifier in track and a member of two national champion cross country teams.   He holds USATF level I and II certifications.

            Chris and his wife, Linzie, have one son, John, who was born in 2006.

Assistant Coach Bruce Durden
            Coach Durden will be entering his first year as an assistant at VU. and will be in charge of the sprints, hurdles, and long jump.
            He brings years of proven success from his coaching tenure at Harrison High school in Evansville where he coached the state record holder in the 300m hurdles as well as several other state medalists and participants.
            Durden received his Bachelor degree from Western Illinois University where he was an All-American, and received his Masters degree in Education from Indiana State University. He has also completed Level I USATF certification.

Assistant Coach Bill Smith
            Bill was the former Vincennes University head coach from 1982-2001. He brought VU to new levels of success during his tenure before stepping down and is now a part-time coach for the program.

            Smith also has 25 years of coaching experience at the high school level at a Tulsa, OK prep school and at Vincennes Rivet High School. He is an expert in the field events and works with the throwers. Smith brings years of winning experience as a former NJCAA coach of the year and coach of multiple National Championship teams.