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Brad Herbster enters his fifth season as the coach of the men's and women's Cross Country teams at Charlotte this fall. He coaches the 49ers in distance events during track season in the spring.
Herbster has made an immediate impact on the 49ers' distance program since his arrival. In 2002, his first year with the cross country teams, the men won their first ever Conference USA championship and in 2004 earned the runner up spot. For his efforts in 2002, Herbster earned C-USA Coach of the Year honors. The women have shown similar improvement under his direction. In 2003, they finished fourth at the league championships, matching their best showing since 1997. In 2005, the women finished second as a team in their inaugural season in the Atlantic 10.
In addition to impressive team performances, Herbster has guided a number of individuals to success. At the most recent cross country conference championship five runners earned All-Atlantic 10 honors. Top women's finisher Cassie Ficken earned All-NCAA Southeast Region honors as well as her first NCAA Cross Country Championships berth. Freshman Aja Jackson was named A-10 Rookie of the Year in addition to making the All-Conference team.
Over the summer, Herbster achieved personal running success as he won the 2006 USATF Master's Steeplechase for his age division.
Prior to joining the Niners program, Herbster spent one season at Hopewell High School, where he started the track program from scratch at the first-year school. In their inaugural season, he coached the team to a second-place finish in the MECA 8 conference. He had four runners earn all-conference honors, including one who represented the school at the state championships.
Before moving to Hopewell, he served three years as the head cross country coach and distance coach for track at nearby North Mecklenburg, where he earned Coach of the Year honors from the Charlotte Observer for the 2000-01 season. While at North Meck, he produced six All-Americans and five North Carolina state champions. Herbster's teams were equally successful, capturing the state 4-A championship in cross country in 2000 and runner-up finishes in cross country in 1999 and outdoor track in 2001. He was named NCHSAA Coach of the Year in 2000.
Herbster graduated from South Carolina in Dec. 1991, where he competed for the cross country and track and field teams. He was a three-time all-conference performer. He also was a solid performer on the track, setting the school's class record in the steeplechase as a senior. Herbster is USATF level 1 Certified.
