Mircea Bogdan
Assistant Cross Country/ Track Coach (Distance)
mbogdan@francis.edu
Phone: 814-472-2821 #2

Mircea Bogdan is in his first season as an assistant coach under Felix Moreno for both track & field and cross country after a standout career at the University of Texas at El Paso. Bogdan will be responsible for Saint Francis’ long distance runners for cross country, as well as indoor and outdoor track & field, and will also oversee the recruitment of international student-athletes.
          While in El Paso, Bogdan was the NCAA Division I champion in the steeplechase and a six-time Western Athletic Conference Champion (indoor 5K, 3K, distance medley relay, mile; outdoor steeplechase, 1500m). Additionally, he was tabbed UTEP’s Male Athlete-of-the-Year in both 2006 and 2007.
          While at UTEP, Bogdan worked with the men’s and women’s cross country and distance team coached by 1988 Olympic 800-meter champion for Kenya, Paul Ereng. He also worked with the local high school coach and former UTEP distance standout, Alfredo Trejo, at Jefferson High School during the Fall of 2006 and Spring of 2007.
          Prior to his time at UTEP, Bogdan was a member of the Romanian Olympic Team. He holds the current Romanian junior record in the steeplechase with a time of 8:43.04, which he set in 2001 at the World University Games in Beijing, China. Bogdan was also a silver medalist for Romania at the 2001 European Junior outdoor championships in the steeplechase.

Tamara Burns
Assistant Track & Field Coach (Throws)
tburns@francis.edu
Phone: 814-472-3882

          Tamara Burns enters her first season as an assistant coach under Felix Moreno for the indoor and outdoor track & field teams. Burns will be responsible for the Saint Francis throwers, while also serving as the team’s recruiting for throws and jumps, and the team’s travel coordinator.
         Burns arrived in Loretto after finishing her eligibility at Virginia Tech, where she was a two-time All-American in the Weight Throw, and an Atlantic Coast Champion in the Weight Throw and Hammer Throw. During her career, she set the Virginia Tech school record for the Weight Throw (73’-3.75”), and was the recipient of the Virginia Tech Women’s Track & Field Coach’s award in 2005 and 2006.
          While Burns was at Virginia Tech, she served as a training room liaison, practice coordinator, and was responsible for all on-campus visits for throwing recruits.
           Burns also holds the Virginia Tech strength awards for squat, hang clean, bench and snatch. She will oversee the strength training of the Red Flash track & field student-athletes.

Carl Keifer
Assistant Track Coach (Sprints)
ckeifer@francis.edu

Carl Keifer enters his third season as an assistant coach with the Saint Francis track & field teams. He is responsible for the Red Flash sprints and relay teams, while also serving as the recruiting coordinator for sprinters.

            Keifer brings a wealth of experience to the Saint Francis coaching staff with more than 25 years of coaching experience. During his career, he has helped athletes reach county, state, national and international levels of competition. A 1981 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Keifer began his coaching career as an assistant at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 1983. He has served as an assistant and head coach at the high school level throughout central and western Pennsylvania, most recently as an assistant coach at Conemaugh Township High School in 2004. Previously, he served as the head coach at Somerset High School.

            Keifer, who attained the Level I track coaching certification in 2005, has coached all 18 events during his career, specializing in sprints, middle distance, hurdles and relays.

Adam Syty
Assistant Cross Country/ Track Coach (Middle Distance)
asyty@francis.edu
Phone: 814-472-2821 #1

Adam Syty is in his first season as an assistant coach for Felix Moreno for both the track & field and cross country programs. Syty will be responsible for Saint Francis’ middle distance runners, while also serving as the recruiting coordinator for middle and long distance runners. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from Bucknell University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, with a major in Secondary Education and a concentration in English.

            While at Bucknell, Syty competed for the Bison cross country, and indoor and outdoor track & field teams. He earned all-East Honors in the distance medley relay while competing for Bucknell. He also earned IC4A relay honors in 2006.