Bob Macfarlane will enter his 17th season leading the St. Bonaventure men's and women's cross country and track programs in 2026-27. A proud St. Bonaventure alumnus, Macfarlane has built the Bonnies running programs through a commitment to competitive excellence, academic achievement, and student-athlete development.
Since returning to his alma mater, Macfarlane has guided the men's and women's programs to unprecedented success. On the men's side, 83 percent of the program's top-10 performances in the 5K, 8K, and 10K have been recorded during his tenure, while on the women's side, 95 percent of the program's top-10 performances in the 5K and 6K have been achieved under his leadership. His student-athletes have earned numerous Atlantic 10 honors, including All-Conference, Rookie of the Week, Performer of the Week, Academic All-District, and Atlantic 10 All-Academic recognition.
Among the program's standout performers, Clay Peets, '26, was named 2026 St. Bonaventure Male Athlete of the Year and earned First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors, becoming the most accomplished distance runner in program history. On the women's side, Kerry Caher, '16, became the first women's cross country runner inducted into the St. Bonaventure Athletics Hall of Fame after earning multiple First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors and establishing herself as the finest women’s runner in Bonnies history.
One of Macfarlane's greatest accomplishments has been growing the program from fewer than 10 combined student-athletes when he arrived to approximately 85 student-athletes currently competing across three seasons—cross country, indoor and outdoor track. His emphasis on recruiting, development, and culture has transformed the program into the largest on campus.
Macfarlane also played an instrumental role in restoring St. Bonaventure's track tradition, leading the return of men's and women's outdoor track in 2017 and the addition of indoor track in 2020.
Success has extended beyond competition. Under his leadership, the Bonnies have consistently excelled in the classroom, earning multiple NCAA Public Recognition Awards for outstanding Academic Progress Rate (APR). The men's and women's programs have regularly ranked among the university’s academic leaders, reflecting Macfarlane's commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes. In 2026, the women's team registered a 3.63 cumulative GPA while the men's team stood at 3.51.
Before returning to St. Bonaventure, Macfarlane spent seven years as the head girl’s cross country coach at Bradford Area School District, compiling a remarkable 66-4 dual meet record while leading his teams to five Pennsylvania District IX championships. He coached four individual district champions, five state qualifying teams, and a state medalist. He also served as Bradford's head girls track & field coach and spent 13 years as an assistant, helping the program capture eight District IX championships, including a Pennsylvania State Championship in 1996. In 2003, Macfarlane coached Team New York/Pennsylvania to an international championship during competition in Australia.
Macfarlane retired after a distinguished career in education, teaching social studies for 34 years in the Bradford Area School District and later serving as an instructor at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford before dedicating himself full time to coaching.
A 1977 graduate of St. Bonaventure, Macfarlane earned both his bachelor's degree in history education and his master's degree in education from the university.
