CHADRON – Brad Gamble, a former track and field student-athlete and assistant coach at Chadron State College, was named the interim head coach for the track and field and cross country programs, athletic director Joel R. Smith announced Wednesday.
 
Gamble, a national champion in the heptathlon in 2011 for the Eagles, has been an assistant coach at CSC since 2011. He replaces Ryan Baily, who resigned Tuesday.
 
"It is to our advantage that we have someone on staff who is qualified to lead the program and is an alum," Smith said. "I believe Brad will continue to build the foundation for a distinguished Division II track and field and cross country program."
 
Since Gamble is now the interim head coach, Brian Medigovich, previously a graduate assistant at Chadron State, will assume Gamble's former duties and become an interim assistant coach for track and field. Medigovich will also help oversee Chadron State's men's and women's cross country programs.
 
"I'm excited a coach and competitor like Brian now has the opportunity to work full time with our distance runners," Smith said.
 
Gamble, a native of Eagle, Colorado, is no stranger to Chadron State. Despite only competing for the Eagles' track and field team one year, he distinguished himself both indoors and outdoors. He set a Division II Indoor Track and Field National Championship meet record while winning the heptathlon and he followed that up with a runner-up finish in the decathlon at the outdoor national championships.
 
Since joining the coaching staff in 2011, Gamble has coached 10 All-Americans, 33 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champions and guided the Eagles to three runner-up finishes at the conference championships. He is the 25^th track and field coach in Chadron State's history.
 
"I'm extremely fortunate and excited to guide the program Coach Baily worked tirelessly for during his tenure," Gamble said. "I look forward to continuing the excellence Chadron State College and its track program have developed. The student-athletes who compete for the track and field and cross country programs are leaders in the classroom and community. I feel my level of enthusiasm and passion will continue to foster a winning culture and I can't wait to get started."
 
Gamble also had a solid career at Hastings College, becoming a two-time All-American before graduating with a degree in physical education in 2010. Following his graduation, he taught at Eagle Valley High, his alma mater, and coached the throwers.  
 
Gamble graduated with a master's degree in organizational management with an emphasis in sports management from Chadron State in May 2014.
 
Medigovich, a native of San Luis Obispo, California, recently wrapped up his first year at Chadron State. In his first season helping with the cross country program, CSC's runners improved across the board and set records in each race.
 
"This is a great opportunity for me to further in cross country and track and field," Medigovich said. "We have a good group of men and women returning and recruiting went well in the offseason. The future is bright for distance at Chadron State and I'm glad to be involved with it."

Medigovich was as an assistant coach at Cuesta Community College in 2012 and at Adams State University for two years. At Cuesta, he focused primarily on recruiting. He also ran for the Asics Aggies. At Alamosa, he helped guide the Adams State men's cross country team to a second place finish at the NCAA National Championships, while the women's team finished fourth.
 
He ran collegiately for Adams State, earning All-American honors 13 times. He was the individual national champion in the 5k indoors in 2010 and competed on three national championship teams. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sports management.