Jeff Bovee, head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach, joined the Illinois State track and field and cross country programs in October 2006, after spending the last three seasons as the head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at Central College in Pella, Iowa.

During his tenure at Central College, Bovee coached four NCAA Division III All-Americans in track, one cross country all-American, as well as eight NCAA Championships qualifiers. In addition, he coached runners that earned United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III all-region honors five times.

Prior to coaching at Central College, Bovee was the head track and field and cross country coach at Parkland Junior College in Champaign, Ill., from 1996-2000. Bovee guided the men's and women's track and field and cross country teams to 12 regional titles. Bovee's teams also placed in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) top-five in cross country and the top-15 in track and field during his final two seasons. More than 30 of Bovee's student-athletes earned junior college all-American status, and 15 were named academic all-Americans.

His successful tenure at Parkland also included coaching the NCJAA Cross Country National Champion in 1999.

A native of Glendale, Ariz., Bovee received a bachelor's degree in physical education from Arizona in 1993, where he competed as a student-athlete in track and field as well as cross country. Bovee was the co-captain of the Wildcat track and field team for two seasons, and was a Pac-10 Conference placewinner in the 800-meters in track and an NCAA national meet participant in cross country.

Bovee received his master's degree in physical education from Eastern Illinois in 1996, while he worked with the men's and women's track and field programs as a graduate assistant from 1995-96.

Bovee holds a USTFCCCA Level I certification in coaching and officiating. He is also a member of the American Alliance for Health Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), USTFCCCA and the Iowa Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches. Currently, Bovee is working towards a doctoral degree of philosophy in pedagogical kinesiology at Illinois.

Bovee and his wife, Tracy, reside in Normal, Ill., with their two children, Aidan (6) and Jace (3).