July 18, 2008
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist athletics department announced on Friday that Pete Colaizzo has been named Director of Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track & Field as part of the restructuring of the programs. Additionally, Chuck Williams has been named Associate Head Coach/Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, and Terry Horton has been hired as Assistant Coach/Men's and Women's Track & Field.
"This move makes our structure more consistent with the other Division I cross country and track & field programs," Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray said. "We are fortunate to have someone with Pete's qualifications to oversee our programs. Since Chuck's graduation from Marist, he has been a great addition to our cross country and track & field staff. I'm confident he will do an outstanding job leading our programs."
Colaizzo, a 1991 Marist graduate, had served as men's cross country/track & field coach for the last 18 years. Williams ran on the cross country and track and field teams at Marist from 1995 to 1999, and has been an assistant coach for the men's and women's programs for the past eight seasons. Horton is a longtime area coach who guided the Arlington High School program for over 30 years, and restarted the Dutchess Community College cross country and track & field programs.
"Chuck and I are looking forward to continuing to build our women's and men's programs together in an effort to be as competitive as we can be in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and in the region," Colaizzo said. "Adding Terry, with his wealth of experience and knowledge in all areas of track and field, to our staff is a really big boost to everything we are trying to accomplish."
The restructuring comes on the heels of the retirement of Phil Kelly, who had been the women's cross country/track & field coach for the past 18 years.
The Marist men's and women's cross country programs will begin their 2008 seasons with a home meet on Friday, Sept. 5 at Bowdoin Park in Poughkeepsie. Following the race, a picnic will be held to honor Kelly for his years of service.
The 2008 cross country schedule will be released in its entirety at a later date.
