Riverdale, NY – Kerri Gallagher has been promoted to Director of Cross Country, Track and Field commencing July 1, 2021, as current Director
Matt Centrowitz will step down from his position at the end of this season.
"I would like to thank Manhattan College for this opportunity the past three years," said Centrowitz. "It was great coming back to where it all started for me in the Bronx. Having worked with Kerri for many years, first as one of my athletes and then as a coaching colleague, I am delighted she is succeeding me at Manhattan College. Together, we developed a solid plan for the program with a terrific, experienced and diverse coaching staff coupled with a very promising group of student-athletes. The Jaspers are especially well positioned with Kerri at the helm."
Centrowitz, who plans to pursue other opportunities including producing a film based on the book he co-authored - "Like Father, Like Son: My Story on Running, Coaching and Parenting" - about his relationship with his son, Matthew Centrowitz Jr. who at the 2016 Olympic Games became the first American since 1908 to win Olympic gold in the 1500-meters.
During his three years, Centrowitz has overseen the growth of the middle distance and distance units. Under his tutelage, the men took third at the 2019 MAAC Cross Country Championships, with both squads producing a combined total of five All-MAAC performers and three MAAC All-Rookie Team honorees, highlighted by 2018 MAAC Most Outstanding Rookie
Hali Ielfield.
Additionally, under his watch the cross country, track and field programs have seen a growth in personnel with a focus on event-specific coaching. The recent additions of dedicated throws, sprints and jumps coaches have led the Jaspers to improvements and increased support for student-athletes in each of these areas.
While at Manhattan College, Centrowitz focused on increasing alumni interaction and involvement, especially with our high school cross country meet and the dedication of
Ed Bowes Way at the legendary final stretch of the Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational.
Manhattan College's programs will continue to garner success athletically, scholastically, and throughout the community with Gallagher leading the charge for the Jaspers. Gallagher's promotion is announced by Director of Intercollegiate Athletics,
Marianne Reilly.
"I am delighted to announce
Kerri Gallagher's promotion to the Director position for the cross country, track and field programs," notes Reilly. "She is a natural born leader and will take the skills she's learned over the past three years working with
Matt Centrowitz to build a top-caliber program. Her dedication to the program has been noticeable since day one and she is primed and ready to advance in this position."
Gallagher, who is in her fifth year with the program, will continue to build a top-caliber program with the culture needed to achieve championship-level results. Gallagher, as Director of the Cross Country, Track and Field program, will be tasked with identifying areas of success for the program, building alumni relations, cultivating fundraising opportunities and recruiting talented individuals to compete for the Manhattan program. Attracting local talent and depth from the metropolitan area, while simultaneously targeting high-end recruits globally has been and will continue to be a hallmark of the program.
"I am very grateful to Manhattan College and
Marianne Reilly for their confidence in me to lead the Cross Country, Track and Field program. I saw the immense potential of our program when I first arrived five years ago to lead the distance program," announced Gallagher. "I am honored to step into the Director role to oversee our teams and student-athletes, while working with our coaches to prepare them for success both athletically and in their personal endeavors.
It is a great privilege to succeed my coach and mentor,
Matt Centrowitz. I have experienced and learned our sport at the highest level both as an athlete and a coach thanks to his guidance these past ten years. He set the bar high as the program's first Director and I look forward to carrying out the mission of building a championship caliber program and culture."
