Howarth brings roots back to Eastern
Wednesday, August 25 2010 - Peace to Meece Memorial 5k/Alumni MeetBy: Dan Cusack/Opinion Editor
The New Lenox native ran and coached in Indianapolis, coached in New Mexico, but has always felt a strong connection with Eastern.
"I went here in running camp when I was in high school over the summer and absolutely loved it," Howarth said. "My father, my uncle and my cousin all graduated here. I love it."
Howarth was announced as the new coach for the men's and women's cross-country teams by Tom Akers, Eastern Illinois director of track and field, June 26. She was also coach of the distance runners for the track and field season.
Geoff Masanet, Eastern's former cross-country head coach, left the program after five years this winter, citing a desire to join his fiancι in Austin, Texas.
Howarth said Illinois has always been home to her and when she heard about the opening she jumped at the chance.
"To come back home to Illinois, the powerhouse that it is in distance, feels great," Howarth said. "It is awesome to recruit this state. I'm excited to be here."
Howarth has always been an athlete. She began running when she was nine and in high school played three sports including cross-country, soccer and basketball.
She said she began running full-time at 18, when she went to college at Butler.
She ran track and cross-country and was named a four-time first team All-Horizon League selection for her efforts in the latter.
When she graduated she held the school record in the outdoor 5,000 meters.
Before joining the Butler coaching staff, Howarth was the coach of the Running Company Mini-Marathon training program from 2001-05 and coach of the Strides for Hope Marathon training program from 2003-04.
She was an assistant coach at Butler for two years helping coach two All-Americans.
Howarth has spent the past three years working as an assistant with New Mexico where she coached six All-American runners during her tenure with the Lobos.
She said the thing she has been really impressed with so far are the people at Eastern.
She said in the short time at the school, people have been "bending over backwards" to make sure her and her husband have felt welcome at Eastern.
Howarth was overwhelmed by the response from her athletes after she sent out an initial e-mail after being named to the position.
"Some of the e-mails brought tears to my eyes with how nice they were," Howarth said. "You never know what kind of response you are going to get with a team, when you first come in. They may be like 'Oh, you are not like my last coach, or things like that. To know that they care about me and my family, with my husband and my son being here it just makes us really exciting."
Fact box:
Four-time first team All-Horizon League at Butler 1996-2000.
Assistant coach at Butler (2005-06) and New Mexico (07-2010)
Coached six All-American runners during her tenure with New Mexico.
Coached two All-Americans during tenure with
Butler.Erin Howarth
Four-time first team All-Horizon League at Butler 1996- 2000.
Assistant coach at Butler (2005-06) and New Mexico (07- 2010)
Coached six All-American runners during her tenure with New Mexico.
Coached two All-Americans during tenure with Butler.
Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or
dscusack@eiu.edu.
© Copyright 2010 The Daily Eastern News
Posted: 8/25/10
Erin Howarth's life has taken her all over the country, but Charleston has always been close to her heart.The New Lenox native ran and coached in Indianapolis, coached in New Mexico, but has always felt a strong connection with Eastern.
"I went here in running camp when I was in high school over the summer and absolutely loved it," Howarth said. "My father, my uncle and my cousin all graduated here. I love it."
Howarth was announced as the new coach for the men's and women's cross-country teams by Tom Akers, Eastern Illinois director of track and field, June 26. She was also coach of the distance runners for the track and field season.
Geoff Masanet, Eastern's former cross-country head coach, left the program after five years this winter, citing a desire to join his fiancι in Austin, Texas.
Howarth said Illinois has always been home to her and when she heard about the opening she jumped at the chance.
"To come back home to Illinois, the powerhouse that it is in distance, feels great," Howarth said. "It is awesome to recruit this state. I'm excited to be here."
Howarth has always been an athlete. She began running when she was nine and in high school played three sports including cross-country, soccer and basketball.
She said she began running full-time at 18, when she went to college at Butler.
She ran track and cross-country and was named a four-time first team All-Horizon League selection for her efforts in the latter.
When she graduated she held the school record in the outdoor 5,000 meters.
Before joining the Butler coaching staff, Howarth was the coach of the Running Company Mini-Marathon training program from 2001-05 and coach of the Strides for Hope Marathon training program from 2003-04.
She was an assistant coach at Butler for two years helping coach two All-Americans.
Howarth has spent the past three years working as an assistant with New Mexico where she coached six All-American runners during her tenure with the Lobos.
She said the thing she has been really impressed with so far are the people at Eastern.
She said in the short time at the school, people have been "bending over backwards" to make sure her and her husband have felt welcome at Eastern.
Howarth was overwhelmed by the response from her athletes after she sent out an initial e-mail after being named to the position.
"Some of the e-mails brought tears to my eyes with how nice they were," Howarth said. "You never know what kind of response you are going to get with a team, when you first come in. They may be like 'Oh, you are not like my last coach, or things like that. To know that they care about me and my family, with my husband and my son being here it just makes us really exciting."
Fact box:
Four-time first team All-Horizon League at Butler 1996-2000.
Assistant coach at Butler (2005-06) and New Mexico (07-2010)
Coached six All-American runners during her tenure with New Mexico.
Coached two All-Americans during tenure with
Butler.Erin Howarth
Four-time first team All-Horizon League at Butler 1996- 2000.
Assistant coach at Butler (2005-06) and New Mexico (07- 2010)
Coached six All-American runners during her tenure with New Mexico.
Coached two All-Americans during tenure with Butler.
Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or
dscusack@eiu.edu.
© Copyright 2010 The Daily Eastern News