University of Portland Athletics

During the 2015 Track & Field season, Colwell guided the program to one of the best seasons in program history. In his first year competing in the 400, Colwell coached Portland record holder Korey Thieleke to the NCAA and USA National Championships. Thieleke was the first Pilot sprinter in over 30 years to qualify for the NCAA National Championship. Two other student-athletes made it to the West Regional. Kaylie Van Loo qualified in the javelin, while Katherine Maus finished her record breaking year in the triple jump. In her senior season, Maus topped the UP record books in the indoor 60 meter dash, long jump, and triple jump; and in the outdoor triple jump and 100 meter dash.

Colwell came to Portland after serving one year as the Head Track & Field and Cross Country Coach at St. Martin's University.

In his first season at Saint Martin's he helped guide Laura Tesch to the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships becoming the first female to qualify for the indoor championships and the third female ever to qualify for the NCAA Championships in track & field. Tesch went on to finish 15th equaling the best-ever finish by a female at the NCAA track & field championshipis.

The Saints had four conference champions in Colwell's first season as Sam Washington won the weight throw (indoor) and shot put (outdoor). Mike Davis claimed the conference outdoor crown in the triple jump and Joey Keeton in the pole vault.
 
Prior to his arrival at SMU, Colwell coached at the Division I, Division II and NAIA levels at the likes of University of Great Falls, the University of Portland, Duke University, Cal Poly Pomona and Eastern Oregon University.
 
At Great Falls, Colwell served as both the head cross country and track & field coach. He coached Travis Price (600m) and the Men’s 4x800m Relay Team both to All-American honors during the 2011-12 season. During that season, the Argos established 29 indoor school records to go along with 25 outdoor school records lead by Travis Price (400m – 48.95) and Ryan O’Neil (100m -10.92 / 200m 21.85). The 2011 Argo men's cross country team placed second at the Frontier Conference Championships and ranked 26^th in the nation.

During the 2010-11 season, Colwell coached sprints, hurdles, 800 m and 3,000m steeplechase at the University of Portland. While at Portland, Colwell helped mentor Jared Basset who earned All-American honors in the steeplechase.
 
From 2008 to 2010, Colwell was an assistant coach for cross country and track & field at Duke University working with the sprints, hurdles, relays and jumps. He coached the women’s 4x400m relay team, 2^nd on the all time Duke Indoor performance list (3:48.33), and mentored Brittany Whitehead (57.12 – 400m) and ACC Triple Jump 2^nd place finisher Jade Ellis (51’11.75).
 
Colwell also served as an assistant coach at California State Polytechnic University – Pomona in 2007-08. While at Cal Poly Pomona, Colwell assisted in hosting the 2008 NCAA DII Track & Field National Championships, along with coaching the multi-events, jumps and javelin.
 
He began his collegiate coaching career at Eastern Oregon University (2004-06) where he was responsible for the sprinters, jumpers, and multi-event athletes and coached seven school record holders, including Matt Lane (400m – 48.46 outdoor and 48.91 indoor) and Whitney Haltiner (Triple Jump – 37’5.25) along with five NAIA national qualifiers.
 
Colwell earned his Master's Degree from Duke University in International Development and a Bachelor's Degree from Eastern Oregon University. He is a USA Track & Field Level 1 certified coach.