Wayne Angel, who has led the University of Northern Colorado track and field and cross country programs for the last seven years, will retire later this month, the UNC Athletic Department announced Monday. UNC will begin a national search for a head coach to replace Angel, who will continue in his role through the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships scheduled for May 13-16 in Portland, Oregon. The search will focus on candidates who demonstrate a strong commitment to student-athlete success, competitive excellence and program growth, according to a news release.
Angel coached UNC athletes to four All-American honors and 17 individual Big Sky titles while at UNC. Two of the most successful athletes, Jerome Campbell and Regina Mpigachai, both competed internationally as student-athletes with the Bears. Campbell is among the best track and field athletes in the Division I era, while Mpigachai is the best distance runner.
Campbell, a hurdler, ran for his native Jamaica at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in March 2025 — days after finishing second in the 60-meter hurdles with a career-best time of 7.49 seconds at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field championships.
Campbell was a two-time qualifier to the prestigious NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Oregon. He ran at NCAAs last year after winning titles in the 100 meters and 110 hurdles at the Big Sky Conference outdoor championships. Campbell was named the men’s co-most valuable athlete and most outstanding performer at the conference meet.
Former University of Northern Colorado hurdler Jerome Campbell transferring to Arkansas
Campbell transferred to the University of Arkansas following the 2025 outdoor season. He is running sprints and hurdles at Arkansas, according to this bio on the track and field team page.
Mpigachai qualified for the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships at the University of Wisconsin. Earlier this year, she ran for her native Tanzania at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida.
“This has been an incredibly meaningful experience, and I’m proud to what we’ve accomplished together,” Angel said in the UNC news release. “I am grateful for the opportunity and support from everyone involved and have full confidence that the team will continue to see success in the future.”
UNC Bears’ Mpigachai to run in World Athletics Cross Country Championships
The track and field outdoor teams are scheduled to wrap up the regular season Friday in a meet at the Air Force Academy.
