Nate Browne

Biography

Nate Browne was named Director of Cross Country and Track & Field for UC Riverside in January of 2016 and enters his 10th full year in 2025-26. He stepped into the interim shoes in August of 2015 following the retirement of Coach Irv Ray. It was the third promotion in as many years for Browne, who was named associate head coach for Track & Field in January of 2013. He originally joined the Highlanders program in the summer of 2003 as a volunteer assistant coach after serving as a volunteer assistant at California Baptist from 2001-02. Browne was promoted to full-time assistant cross country and track and field coach in the summer of 2007. Under Browne's leadership, UC Riverside has achieved significant success including Vesta Bell's NCAA Division I national championship in the weight throw in 2016, the school's first national title in any sport. The program has won 20 Big West individual championships, with six Highlanders advancing to NCAAs and earning All-American status. In 2023, Browne led the UCR Men's Cross Country team to its first Highlander Invitational win since 2014, with both squads ranking No. 11 in the West Region. The women's track and field team achieved national prominence with No. 16 ranking in the 5000m relay in 2022. Browne was an 11-time collegiate All-American at California Baptist, where he was the national runner-up in the indoor 800m in 1999 and won five NAIA National Championships in the 4x800m and distance medley relays. He is a member of the Unit