UTEP Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Mika Laaksonen announced Mircea Bogdan as the associate head cross country coach on Aug. 29, 2023.
Bogdan returns to the 915 after Laaksonen recruited Bogdan to compete with the Miners where he was most notably crowned the 2005 NCAA Champion in the 3000-meter steeplechase.
Bogdan previously served as the director of track and field/cross country at Chicago State during the 2022-23 season. Prior to coaching the Cougars, Bogdan was an assistant coach at Loyola University Chicago for seven seasons and served as a volunteer assistant coach in 2014-15.
Bogdan is the second former UTEP athlete to be added to the current UTEP coaching staff after Milton Mallard was named associate head track and field coach on Monday.
Under his tutelage, Bogdan played a major role in the development of 36 All-Missouri Valley Conference selections. At the forefront of that group was Kevin White. Under Bogdan's tutelage, White captured three Valley 800m titles, highlighted by back-to-back victories in the event at the outdoor league meet in 2017 and 2018. White earned Honorable Mention All-American honors after he posted the fourth fastest 1,500m time in school history (3:43.26) to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Bogdan competed at UTEP from 2003 to 2006. The native of Romania’s career with the Orange and Blue was highlighted by his 2005 NCAA Championship in which he clocked in an 8:27.29 in the 3000m steeplechase. Bogdan was the runner up the following season. Bogdan added multiple conference titles to his success with the Miners, while ranking in the top 10 in multiple school events.
Bogdan received his Bachelor of Health Science in kinesiology (B.S.) from The University of Texas at El Paso in June 2007, and worked towards his Master of Education (M. Ed.) from Saint Francis University in May 2009.
He commenced his coaching duties at UTEP (2006-2007) as a post NCAA eligibility student coach. Following his time in the Sun City, he went to become a graduate assistant at Saint Francis from 2007-2009.
