Babson College

Russ Brennen is in his 23rd season as head coach of Babson's track & field programs in 2026-27.

Brennen has taken the track & field programs to new heights in recent years, sending six men and three women to the NCAA Division III Championships since 2021 with three men and two women earning All-America recognition. The Beavers have received four men’s and three women’s major post-season awards from the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) since 2023 with Brennen and his assistants earning NEWMAC Coaching Staff of the Year in 2017 and 2024.

After John Decker became Babson’s first All-American under Brennen in the 800 meters in 2017, the Beavers had two athletes earn All-America honors in 2024, Anthony Rodriguez in the 10,000 meters and Eric Bottern in the shot put, and Skyler Mott did the same in the high jump in 2026. Katherine Jacobs became the first Babson women’s All-American in 2022 in the 100-meter hurdles and Amrit Rehal became the second in 2026 in the high jump. Altogether, Brennen has sent nine men and six women to the NCAA Championships since 2013, including six men and three women since 2021.

The Beavers have received numerous All-Region recognitions over the past decade, with more than two dozen men and more than 20 women bringing home accolades since 2013.

The Green and White athletes who have earned major NEWMAC honors under Brennen include John Decker ’18 in 2017 and Anthony Rodriguez ’24 in 2023 and 2024 as Track Athlete of the Year, Eric Bottern ’24 in 2024 as Field Athlete of the Year, and Chris McDonough ‘27 as 2024 Rookie of the Year for the men, and Marina Capalbo ’15 as Track Athlete of the Year in 2015, Colleen Corman ’27 as Rookie of the Year in 2024, and Elaina Head ‘29 as Field Athlete and Rookie of the Year in 2026. The Beavers have claimed 16 men’s and nine women’s NEWMAC individual championships since 2009, with 15 of the 25 coming since 2021, and 31 men and 19 women earning All-NEWMAC honors after placing in the top two in individual events.

The Babson men enjoyed their most successful team performance in 2024, placing a program-best third at the NEWMAC Championships with a program-record 151 points and setting program standards at the regionals with a tie for 11th place and 29 points. The women’s program finished a program-best fifth place at the NEWMACs in 2021, 2023 and 2026, with the four highest points totals in the last four years, led by the 72.5 points in 2026, and posted program-highs at the 2026 regionals with a tie for 16th and 18 points.

A 1992 graduate of RIT, Brennen was a member of the Tigers’ cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field teams. After receiving his master’s degree from Syracuse University in 2001, he spent three years as an assistant coach at Babson prior to taking over as head coach ahead of the 2004-05 season.