Alfred University appoints new cross country coach
ALFRED, NY—
Paul Vecchio, director of athletics at Alfred University, announces the appointment of
Tim Chichester as the University's head men's and women's cross country coach.
Chichester begins his duties in the part-time position in time for the start of the 2016 season. He takes over for Bill Sortore, who has served as head men's and women's cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field since 2008.
Sortore, who is a full-time physical education teacher at Wellsville (NY) Middle School, remains head men's and women's track and field coach at AU. Chichester served as volunteer distance coach for the AU track and field teams last spring and will continue in that role in 2016-17.
"I am elated to hire Tim to oversee our cross country program and continue to work with our distance athletes throughout the season. He made a huge impression on the program last spring as a volunteer, and at the urging of Coach Sortore, I approached Tim about this opportunity," Vecchio said. "Anytime you can hire a coach who was a part of the Olympic Trials as Tim was this year, you feel very fortunate. I look forward to the impact he will make on cross country and distance program at AU."
Chichester said he is eager to start the 2016 season and build on the recent success Saxon distance runners have enjoyed.
"I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with the Alfred University cross country teams," he said. "Bill Sortore has been a great mentor to me, and I feel honored to be taking over as the head coach for this season. Alfred University is a great college, and I think that that Coach Sortore and I can continue to develop the cross-country & track teams into contenders in the region and division."
He is optimistic the men's and women's teams, each possessing a talented core of veterans, are poised to enjoy success this fall. "The teams have a lot of potential for the upcoming season. We have several veteran runners with experience to share with the younger members of the team. There is a great potential that we could send a few of our runners to nationals this year. Growth of the teams is big goal for the season."
Chichester comes to AU with experience as a collegiate coach. He was a volunteer cross country and track and field coach at the College at Brockport in the fall of 2011 and spring seasons of 2012 and 2013 and was an assistant cross country coach at Brockport in 2012. He also has experience coaching at the high school level, serving as assistant girls' varsity track and field coach at Mount Morris Central School in 2011.
He is set to begin his first year a high school science teacher at Arkport Central School. Prior to that, he was a special education teacher for Wellsville Central School (2015-16); and physical science teacher (2013-15) and health science teacher (2014-15) at Colegio Americano de Torreon, a college preparatory international school in Torreon, Mexico.
Chichester has an extensive background in competitive running. He placed 11
th in the Boston Marathon in 2012 and 15
th in the New York City Marathon in 2015. Twice he competed and placed in the top 15 in the Marathon LALA, Torreon, Mexico, taking eighth in 2014 and 13
th in 2015. Chichester was a qualifier for the Olympic Trials for the marathon this year.
Chichester earned a bachelor's degree in biology from SUNY Geneseo in 2010 and a master's degree in biology from Brockport in 2015. While at Geneseo, he was a four-year member of the cross country and track teams, serving as captain of the cross country team three years.
Five times he participated in the NCAA Division III cross country and track and field championship meets and was an NCAA Atlantic Region All-Star in cross country in 2008 and 2009. In 2009, he was inducted into the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Hall of Fame for cross country.
Chichester resides in Wellsville with his wife, Bridget.