FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Courtesy of Lasell Athletics Communications
NEWTON, Mass. – Director of Athletics Kristy Walter is pleased to announce the hire of Patrick O’Neill as the head men’s and women’s cross country and track & field coach.
“I am excited to have Pat join our coaching staff this season,” said Walter. “He comes to Lasell with a strong coaching background and I am looking forward to watching him work with our student-athletes.”
O'Neill joins the Lasell College coaching staff after having served two years at Brandeis University as the assistant cross country and track and field coach. With the Judges, O'Neill helped manage and host the UAA Indoor Track and Field Conference Championships, and additionally coached five athletes to quality for the NCAA DIII Championships.
"I would like to thank Kristy Walter and Lasell College for giving me the opportunity to lead the men's and women's cross country and track & field programs," said O'Neill. "I look forward to working with a great group of student-athletes and colleagues in helping further both the cross country and track and field programs."
Prior to his time at Brandeis, O'Neill served as the head coach for the men's and women's cross country teams at Lesley University. O'Neill had a tremendous impact at Lesley, leading both teams to a New England Collegiate Conference Championship (NECC) title. Nine athletes set new school records under O'Neill's reign, and the women's team was additionally named to the 2013 USTFCCCA DIII Cross Country All-Academic Team.
O’Neill began his collegiate coaching journey in 2010, where he served as the primary assistant coach for the men’s and women’s cross country/track and field teams at American International College. At AIC, O’Neill developed training programs for all middle distance and distance runners, and created cross training routines for runners with injuries to maintain their fitness levels. O’Neill coach the Yellow Jackets to success, as 21 of his athletes were named to the NCAA DII All-America Team. 25 of the Yellow Jackets were NCAA DII National qualifiers, and O’Neill coached the 2010, 2011, and 2012 NCAA DII East Region Women’s Cross Country Individual Champion.
In addition to his coaching experience, O'Neill was a four year standout runner (2004-2008) at Seton Hall University, where he was named to the 2006, 2007, and 2008 Big East Conference Academic All-Star Team.
O'Neill concluded, "I believe Lasell presents an excellent opportunity for these student-athletes to achieve both their academic and athletic goals and I'm excited to be a part of helping them accomplish those goals."