POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Chuck Williams has stepped down as head coach of the Marist women's cross country program, and from his position as assistant coach with the Red Foxes' track & field programs.
 
Highlights of Williams' tenure included numerous school records re-written by athletes he worked with directly, and a program which consistently sat at the top of the MAAC in academic honors.
 
"It has been an honor and a privilege to have been an athlete and coach for the Running Red Foxes for the last three decades," Williams said. "In that time, I was fortunate to work with so many amazing young women and men who truly elevated our program athletically, but I am equally proud of everything they accomplished in the classroom and off the track. I am eternally grateful to Coach Pete Colaizzo for being an amazing coach and mentor to me during my time here at Marist. Although this ultimately was not an easy decision, I know that our program is in great hands. The future of Marist track is very bright, and I am looking forward to time with my family who have supported me every step of my journey."
 
Williams had a three-decade association with Marist cross country/track & field, which began with his career as a student-athlete. He joined the program as a freshman in the fall of 1995, and he became an assistant cross country/track & field coach immediately following his graduation in 1999, aiding in the sprint and field event areas. Following the retirement of Phil Kelly in 2008, Williams took over the reins of the women's cross country program and worked with the women's distance runners in track.
 
"On behalf of the entire athletics department, I want to thank Chuck for his three decades with our cross country and track programs," Director of Athletics Tim Murray said. "As a student-athlete and as a head coach, Chuck worked extremely hard in support of his student-athletes. I thank Chuck and his family for all of the sacrifices that he has made in support of our student-athletes."
 
In Williams' tenure, women's cross country won ECAC championships in 2009 and 2015. The program also finished in the region's top 12 for three straight seasons from 2017-19. In 2015, Michelle Gaye became the first female track athlete in school history to qualify for the NCAA Regional Championship meet. Williams also coached five athletes who competed in the Olympic trials in the racewalk in back-to-back cycles.
 
"Chuck's dedication and loyalty to our program, and to me, are unquestioned," Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Pete Colaizzo said. "A big part of who we are, and where we are headed, are directly attributed to Chuck's hard work for all these years."