Riverdale, NY – Kerri Gallagher, one of the top middle-distance runners in the United States, has been named head coach of the Manhattan College men's and women's cross country teams while also being tabbed to guide the Jaspers' middle distance and distance programs, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Marianne Reilly announced today.
“We are fortunate to have a person of Kerri's caliber and integrity to lead our program into the future,” said Reilly. “I have had the pleasure of watching Kerri compete as a student-athlete at the Division I level and develop into a fierce competitor and world-class runner after graduation. Her story is amazing and she will not only be a great role model for our men and women, but will restore the winning tradition of our programs.”
Gallagher, who earlier this month competed in the United States Olympic Trials, has spent the last five years serving as an assistant coach for the men's and women's teams at American University under renowned coach Matt Centrowitz. During her time at American, she was responsible for creating individual training regimens with a focus on middle-distance and distance events while assisting in recruiting and budget management.
“It is an honor to join the proud Manhattan College track and field tradition as the head cross country and distance coach,” said Gallagher. “I grew up training and racing in New York City and have always dreamed of coming back to the city at an institution that promotes not only athletic success, but a culture based in the Lasallian Catholic tradition. I look forward to using my experience from working with a world-class coach in Matt Centrowitz as well as from competing on an international stage to help the athletic and personal development of our student-athletes."
Gallagher broke onto the national scene in 2015, posting a world-leading 4:34.42 in the mile run at the Penn Relays. She then placed third in the 1500 meters at the USATF Outdoor Championships to qualify for the World Championships. At the 2015 Worlds in Beijing, she advanced to the semifinals before concluding a breakout campaign with her first win in Europe, running a blistering 4:03.56 in her signature 1500-meter event.
A three-time USATF Outdoor Championship qualifier, Gallagher was member of the cross country and track teams at Fordham University. As a senior, Gallagher won both the 1000 meters and mile to earn First Team All-Conference honors in each event at the indoor meet while also setting meet records. During outdoors, Gallagher won the 1500 meters at the Raleigh Relays with one of the top times in the country that year (4:26.34), which was the second-fastest time in Fordham history. She took first in the 800 meters and 1500 meters at the 2011 Metropolitan Championships.
A 2011 graduate from Fordham with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Gallagher notched ESPN Academic All-District ® College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) All-District honors en route to receiving the Claire and Jack Hobbs Award as the most outstanding female athlete and was recently named to the 2017 Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame.
Gallagher, who hails from Belle Harbor, NY, graduated from Bishop Kearney High School where she was coached by Manhattan Hall of Fame member and five-time All-American, John Lovett '73.
Gallagher Articles Of Interest
Irish New Yorker Gives Up Wall Street For Olympic Dream (Irish Central) – 8/14/15
Kerri Gallagher: From Running Dropout To World Championship Member (Runner's World) – 7/22/15
Former Bishop Kearney Track Star Qualifies For World Championships (Courier Life's Brooklyn Daily) – 7/7/15
Belle Harbor Native One Step Closer To Olympic Dreams (Times Ledger) – 5/2/15
Kerri Gallagher Sets Army 10-Miler Record (Competitor.Com) – 10/21/13
Kerri Gallagher Quits Job To Pursue Dream Of Running In The Olympics (NY Daily News) – 5/6/12
