SPOKANE, Wash. - Travis Howell has been named the new Director of Facilities and Game Management / Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach at Whitworth University. He officially begins work today.

Howell becomes Whitworth's first full-time assistant coach in the sports of cross country and track and field, a pair of programs that, when combined, field more than 120 student-athletes.

"The addition of another full-time presence on campus for the cross country and track and field programs is a great example of the support the university has given to athletics in general and the cross country and track and field programs specifically," said Toby Schwarz, the head coach of both Pirate programs.

Whitworth's men's track and field team was third at last season's Northwest Conference meet and 16th at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. The women were fourth in the NWC. Both Pirate cross country teams were fifth in the conference last fall.

"Travis will be a huge contributor to the goals of taking the cross country and track and field programs at Whitworth to the highest levels," said Schwarz.

Howell is not new to Whitworth, having served as a part time assistant coach in the track and field program during the 2006-07 academic year. He also has five years of experience coaching track and field and football at West Valley High School (2000 - 2005). He graduated from Gonzaga in 2004 with an education degree and has been an elementary-level teacher at both Trinity Catholic School and Orchard Center Elementary.

"I am really excited about this opportunity and working full-time at a university is something I've always wanted to do," said Howell. "I look forward to helping these programs succeed at both the conference and national levels."

In addition to his coaching duties, Howell will serve as Whitworth's Director of Facilities and Game Management, a position previously filled by former Associate Head Basketball Coach Rodney Wecker, who has taken the head coaching position at Austin College (Texas).

Howell's facilities and management duties will begin in earnest on September 7th and 8th, when Whitworth hosts a volleyball tournament, its seaon-opener in football, and a women's soccer match.