Kim McGreevy, a former Big Ten Conference cross-country champion and Academic All-American, has been named as the new assistant track & field and cross-country coach at Michigan State University.
McGreevy had spent the last 4 years in the same position at the University of Connecticut.
McGreevy replaces the successful and popular Rita Arndt-Molis, who accepted a position in early August as the head coach for track and cross-country at Miami University of Ohio in the Mid-American Conference.
Arndt-Molis was an outstanding addition to Michigan State's staff and should really help Miami of Ohio's running program.
Walt Drenth, director of track & field and cross-country at Michigan State, wasted no time in hiring McGreevy.
"We are excited to add someone with Kim's experience and success to our program," said Drenth.
"She has had both coaching and competitive success at the highest levels of competition .
.
.
(she) brings enthusiasm to everything that she does and is extremely well-respected (nationally).
We are ecstatic to have her as part of our staff.
" While at Connecticut, McGreevy's primary responsibilities were the women's cross-country program, and the middle distance and distance events in track.
McGreevy was instrumental in the rebuilding of the Connecticut women's program, which won its first Big East Indoor Championship in 2008.
McGreevy also helped mold Jillian Sullivan from a walk-on into the program's first All-American cross-country runner.
Sullivan also won the Big East Conference steeplechase title and qualified for the NCAA championship meet.
McGreevy spent two years at the U.
S.
Naval Academy before transferring to Penn State for her final two years of eligibility.
She was a 5-time All-American in cross-country and track, and was selected as both the Penn State Female Athlete of the Year and the Big Ten Cross-Country Athlete of the Year.
She later became a professional runner sponsored by the New York Athletic Club.
This year's 2008 Big Ten Cross-County Championship Meet will be held Nov.
2 in Ann Arbor (MI), the Great Lakes Regional Championship (to qualify for the national meet) will be Nov.
15 in West Lafayette (IN), and the NCAA Championship Meet will be Nov.
24 in Terre Haute (IN).
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley