THIEL TO REINSTATE CROSS COUNTRY PROGRAMS

Kevin Fenstermacher
Assistant Athletic Director
Sports Information Director
75 College Ave.
Greenville, PA 16125
Phone - 724.589.2187
Fax - 724.589.2880
kfenstermacher@thiel.edu
www.thiel.edu/athletics

For Immediate Release: May 31, 2007

THIEL TO REINSTATE CROSS COUNTRY PROGRAMS

GREENVILLE, Pa. (May 31) -- Thiel College has announced it will reinstate both the men's and women's cross country programs this fall.

“After reassessing our decision to suspend the cross country programs just over a year ago the College has decided that reinstating both of these programs, under the proper circumstances, could be very beneficial to the overall growth and improvement of our entire athletic program," said Vice President for Student Life and interim athletic director Roseanne Gill-Jacobson. “Our goal with cross country, as it is with all of our varsity programs, is to attract and keep full rosters while maintaining both academic and athletic success, and I believe we have the right circumstances now to make that a reality.”

Leading the program will be current Tomcat assistant track and field coach Kevin Pool. Pool, a 2005 Allegheny College graduate, was a three-time NCAA Division III all-American for the Gators. He finished third at the 2005 indoor track and field national championships in the 5,000 meters and posted a pair of top 20 finishes at the cross country national championships. His 10th place finish at the 2003 national championships was the highest-ever finish by a male North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) runner.

Pool was a nine-time all-NCAC selection, a seven-time NCAC champion and three times was named the MVP of the NCAC while earning four all-Mideast selections in cross country. He set five school records while at Allegheny, including marks of 14:32 in the indoor 5,000 meters, 8:21 in the indoor 3,000 meters, and 30:23 in the 10,000 meters. Over his career he helped lead the Gators to six NCAC team titles and their first appearance at the NCAA cross country championships in 2002.

"I think this is going to be a really exciting opportunity for me. I see a lot of potential to attract a different sector of student-athlete than what we have in the past. We haven't had much opportunity this year to recruit due to the late announcement of the reinstatement of the programs, but we are planning on bringing in a really nice class for the 2008 season. I think over the next three or four years we will see a major improvement in the overall strength of the cross country teams at Thiel," said Pool.

"I hope to have 10 females and between 10 and 15 males in the first year, which I think are pretty solid numbers. Hopefully we will be able to build upon a decent finish this year and eventually contend for a title," said Pool.

While a member of the cross country and track and field programs at Allegheny, Pool ran under legendary coach Bill Ross. In his 10 years with the Gators, Ross has been named NCAA Regional Coach of the Year seven times while coaching athletes to 50 national appearances, 17 All-America performances, and two NCAA Division III National Championships. Ross has a long history of developing winning programs. As the Thiel head coach from 1989-1996, Ross lead the Tomcat men and women to four Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championships. He also saw two NCAA Division III champions and took 30 athletes to nationals with 12 earning All-America honors. Five times he picked up PAC Coach of the Year honors, while also being named Div. III Mid-East District Coach of the Year three times.

"After running for Coach Ross one thing that I noticed was we really had people buying into the program. When that happens, you really start to see good things happen. Allegheny's programs have just gone to a different level since kids started buying into wanting to build something special and raising the bar for each other," said Pool.

As a first-year head coach Pool will have the opportunity for work with head men's and women's track and field coach Clyde Morgan. Morgan, a 2000 Thiel graduate and another Ross disciple, believes that what he has seen from Pool in just the short time he has been working with the Tomcats is enough to believe he could handle the rigors of life as a head coach.

"He’s been successful as a student-athlete on the national level and has run under a legendary coach in Bill Ross. He’s been around a nationally recognized program where they get it done both in the classroom and on the cross country course and track. He’s passionate about the sport. I believe to be a successful coach it can’t be a 9-to-5 job. You have to be dedicated, work hard and put the time into the program," said Morgan.

For more information on the Thiel cross country program please contact head coach Kevin Pool at kpool@thiel.edu or by phone at 724-589-2038.

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www.thiel.edu/athletics

		Kevin Fenstermacher Assistant Athletic Director Sports Information Director 75 College Ave. Greenville, PA 16125 Phone - 724.589.2187 Fax - 724.589.2880 kfenstermacher@thiel.edu www.thiel.edu/athletics

For Immediate Release: May 31, 2007 THIEL TO REINSTATE CROSS COUNTRY PROGRAMS GREENVILLE, Pa. (May 31) -- Thiel College has announced it will reinstate both the men's and women's cross country programs this fall. “After reassessing our decision to suspend the cross country programs just over a year ago the College has decided that reinstating both of these programs, under the proper circumstances, could be very beneficial to the overall growth and improvement of our entire athletic program," said Vice President for Student Life and interim athletic director Roseanne Gill-Jacobson. “Our goal with cross country, as it is with all of our varsity programs, is to attract and keep full rosters while maintaining both academic and athletic success, and I believe we have the right circumstances now to make that a reality.” Leading the program will be current Tomcat assistant track and field coach Kevin Pool. Pool, a 2005 Allegheny College graduate, was a three-time NCAA Division III all-American for the Gators. He finished third at the 2005 indoor track and field national championships in the 5,000 meters and posted a pair of top 20 finishes at the cross country national championships. His 10th place finish at the 2003 national championships was the highest-ever finish by a male North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) runner. Pool was a nine-time all-NCAC selection, a seven-time NCAC champion and three times was named the MVP of the NCAC while earning four all-Mideast selections in cross country. He set five school records while at Allegheny, including marks of 14:32 in the indoor 5,000 meters, 8:21 in the indoor 3,000 meters, and 30:23 in the 10,000 meters. Over his career he helped lead the Gators to six NCAC team titles and their first appearance at the NCAA cross country championships in 2002. "I think this is going to be a really exciting opportunity for me. I see a lot of potential to attract a different sector of student-athlete than what we have in the past. We haven't had much opportunity this year to recruit due to the late announcement of the reinstatement of the programs, but we are planning on bringing in a really nice class for the 2008 season. I think over the next three or four years we will see a major improvement in the overall strength of the cross country teams at Thiel," said Pool. "I hope to have 10 females and between 10 and 15 males in the first year, which I think are pretty solid numbers. Hopefully we will be able to build upon a decent finish this year and eventually contend for a title," said Pool. While a member of the cross country and track and field programs at Allegheny, Pool ran under legendary coach Bill Ross. In his 10 years with the Gators, Ross has been named NCAA Regional Coach of the Year seven times while coaching athletes to 50 national appearances, 17 All-America performances, and two NCAA Division III National Championships. Ross has a long history of developing winning programs. As the Thiel head coach from 1989-1996, Ross lead the Tomcat men and women to four Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championships. He also saw two NCAA Division III champions and took 30 athletes to nationals with 12 earning All-America honors. Five times he picked up PAC Coach of the Year honors, while also being named Div. III Mid-East District Coach of the Year three times. "After running for Coach Ross one thing that I noticed was we really had people buying into the program. When that happens, you really start to see good things happen. Allegheny's programs have just gone to a different level since kids started buying into wanting to build something special and raising the bar for each other," said Pool. As a first-year head coach Pool will have the opportunity for work with head men's and women's track and field coach Clyde Morgan. Morgan, a 2000 Thiel graduate and another Ross disciple, believes that what he has seen from Pool in just the short time he has been working with the Tomcats is enough to believe he could handle the rigors of life as a head coach. "He’s been successful as a student-athlete on the national level and has run under a legendary coach in Bill Ross. He’s been around a nationally recognized program where they get it done both in the classroom and on the cross country course and track. He’s passionate about the sport. I believe to be a successful coach it can’t be a 9-to-5 job. You have to be dedicated, work hard and put the time into the program," said Morgan. For more information on the Thiel cross country program please contact head coach Kevin Pool at kpool@thiel.edu or by phone at 724-589-2038.






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