Ross Bunchek enters his secondyear with the Crusader Track & Field Program, working primarily as a strength and conditioning coach and hammer-throw specialist.

A native of Valparaiso, Bunchek returns to Northwest Indiana after a three-year stint in Nebraska.  He was previously associated with the University of Nebraska Track & Field team where he was a volunteer assistant throws coach for the Huskers under coach Carrie Lane.  While at Nebraska, Bunchek assisted the Husker throws program in all aspects and helped in guiding the 2012-13 Huskers to a Big Ten Team Championship, an individual Conference Championship, and to three All-Conference performances.

Before joining the Huskers, Bunchek was a four-time NCAA Division II All-American in both the hammer-throw and weight throw at Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. During his time with the Wildcats, he set numerous school and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) records in both events. He recorded personal bests of 68'11" (21.01m) in the weight throw and 217'2" (66.20m) in the hammer throw, the latter of which qualified him for the 2012 United States Olympic Trials. Bunchek graduated in May of 2012 with a master's degree in exercise science in only one and a half years. While at Wayne State, he served as an academic graduate assistant to the University's Health, Human Performance and Sport Department (HHPS). Following graduation, he earned his USTFCCCA Academy Technical Coaching Certification and his NSCA designation as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.  He also holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Carthage College, where he was a two-time NCAA DIII National Qualifier for the Red Men.

Bunchek, who also works as the Healthy Living Director at the Portage Township YMCA, currently resides in Valparaiso with his fiancée Victoria Zimmerman, who was the 2011 Big 12 hammer throw champion for the Huskers.  They were married in October of 2013.