KSC Alum Adams named head cross country coach at Mount Holyoke

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Apr. 26, 2011) – The Mount Holyoke College Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the hiring of Jennifer Adams as its head cross country coach. Adams will also serve as an assistant coach for both the indoor and outdoor track and field squads at the College. Her duties will begin in August.

"Jennifer brings a solid background as a nationally ranked cross country and track and field competitor at Keene State College and successful coaching at RPI," said Mount Holyoke Director of Athletics Laurie Priest. "We have high hopes that she will take Mount Holyoke's cross country program to the next level."

 Prior to joining the Mount Holyoke staff, Adams enjoyed a two-year stint (2009-10) as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams at RPI. She specialized in distance training and also assisted in recruiting efforts. In 2010, Adams helped train the Liberty League Rookie of the Year in both cross country and outdoor track and field. She has been a part of a coaching staff that has garnered Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors in each of the last two seasons.

Adams was a standout runner at Keene State College for four seasons. During that time, she earned All-America honors ten times. In addition to capturing an NCAA Division III National Championship in the distance medley relay as a sophomore, she also won the indoor 5,000-meter run national title as a senior. Adams was captain of both the cross country and track and field teams during her junior and senior years.

During her senior year, she was named Little East Conference Runner of the Year for all three sports and earned Keene State's Female Athlete of the Year Award. Her times in the 5,000-meter run were the best in the nation heading into indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships that season.

In 2007, after winning the New England Regional Cross Country meet, Adams was named New England Cross Country Runner of the Year and was New England Regional Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

Adams graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from Keene State in 2008. During her senior year, she earned a USATF Level 1Coaching Certification as part of a semester long internship.

Story Courtesy of Mount Holyoke Sports Information