Cross Country/Track & Field Announces 2018-19 Coaching Staff
RINDGE, N.H. (June 6, 2018) – The Franklin Pierce University cross country and track & field program, under the direction of Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Zach Emerson, has announced its 2018-19 coaching staff.
Most prominently, the Ravens have announced the promotion of Whitney Cyr, who will now be the program’s associate head coach. Over five years as the track & field program’s throws coach, she has seen her student-athletes achieve NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks on six occasions and also collect six All-Northeast-10 Conference awards. Cyr’s charges have also totaled 14 All-East Region accolades from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association over the same time period. Since 2014, the throwers on the women’s team have accounted for 70% of the program’s points at the NE10 Championships. Cyr was promoted to replace Chris DeLeon, who has departed the program after five years.
“Coach Cyr has proven to be one of the best and brightest young throwing coaches in all of New England,” said Emerson. “She has a phenomenal passion and energy for the sport of track & field, and our athletes have flourished under her leadership. As we look towards building a balanced competitiveness between our men’s and women’s programs, coach Cyr will be instrumental in shaping the future of both programs. I am excited for the opportunity that this promotion will bring for both her and our student-athletes.”
Another significant movement for the program sees Colton Ham ’16 depart his role as a graduate assistant coach to take over head coaching duties at Division III New England College, in Henniker, N.H. An original Raven, Ham leaves Rindge after six years with the program, including a decorated undergraduate career.
“Colton joined our inaugural men’s team back in 2012 as our very first recruit,” said Emerson. “We watched him accomplish some great things on the cross country trail and on the track, but most importantly, we saw him mature and realize his potential, both as an athlete and as a leader. We are proud of him and wish him the best of luck in his new adventures at New England College.”
The Ravens will replace one accolade-laden athlete with another in the role, as Dage Minors ’17 joins the staff as a graduate assistant charged with assistant coach duties for the program’s middle distance and cross country runners. Minors wrapped up his collegiate career this spring as the most-successful Raven yet. He finished his career as a six-time All-American, a nine-time NCAA Championship qualifier and a 21-time NE10 champion. While working with the Ravens, Minors will continue to train and compete internationally, with his eyes on qualifying to represent his native Bermuda in the 2020 Olympics.
Another recent graduate, Martin Gradijan ’18, joins the staff in a new graduate assistant position. He will oversee the operations aspects of the track & field program and also serve as recruiting coordinator.
Rindge has become the place to stay for graduates of the program, as two other recent graduates will join the Ravens in volunteer capacities. Emily Quinn ’18, a school record holder and two-time NCAA provisional qualifier, joins the staff as a volunteer throws coach, while Breigh Souliere ’17 returns to the program as a volunteer hurdles coach.
Alex Bonitto ’17 remains with the program for his second year as an assistant coach working with the team’s sprinters and horizontal jumpers. Mark Josselyn ’17 -- who is also a graduate assistant within the Department of Athletics’ compliance office -- also remains on the staff for a second year assisting with the team’s throwers.
For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics’ official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce cross country/track & field apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics’ online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).