Brennan Cape was hired as Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach in June 2022.
Under Cape's leadership, Columbia has achieved unprecedented success. The men's cross country team captured the 2024 AMC Championship (Columbia's ninth overall, first under Cape) and hosted the NAIA Men's and Women's Cross Country National Championships. The men's track and field has won three straight AMC Indoor titles (2023-2025) and claimed the 2025 AMC Outdoor championship, while women's track secured both AMC Indoor and Outdoor titles in 2025. Cape and his staff have been named AMC Coaching Staff of the Year three consecutive times.
Under the direction of Cape, the Cougars have named numerous individual champions and national qualifiers, including one NAIA All-American in cross country and one All-American in women's pole vault, with multiple athletes competing at NAIA Track and Field Championships each season.
Prior to Columbia, Cape spent three years at Missouri Baptist University, where he led the men's cross country team to its first AMC title in 15 years and first NAIA National Championship berth since 1987. He coached 23 national qualifiers, including Emily Bayer, who placed third at NAIA Nationals in the mile.
Cape and his wife Abby are Columbia College alumni and former Cougar runners. Cape was a three-time individual National Championship qualifier and 2015 AMC Champion in the 3,000m. They live in Columbia with their two children.
