Andy Ronan Position: Head Coach Experience: 12th Season Alma Mater: Providence '86

Since joining Stony Brook University in 2000, Andy Ronan's cross country and track and field teams have become two of the most successful programs in Seawolves' history. Not only are his teams competitive within the America East Conference, but they are also starting to make a name for themselves nationally,making NCAA Championship appearances cross country in 2007, 2008 and 2010, when the squad finished seventh. He mentored Lucy van Dalen, arguably Stony Brook's most decorated student-athlete and a 2012 Olympian.

Van Dalen earned the Seawolves' first-ever individual national championship in any sport when she won the NCAA mile race in 2011. She won back-to-back America East Most Outstanding performer awards at the indoor championships in 2011 and 2012 and nabbed Scholar-Athlete honors in 2012.

Under Ronan's guidance, the Seawolves cross country teams have experienced incredible success. He has guided three All-American runner, with Holly and Lucy van Dalen being recognized in 2010 and Hayley Green in 2011. His runners have also earned more than a dozen All-Northeast Region honors and 49 All-America East honors. His teams also have a long list of championships: Eight America East individual championships, three METS individual championships and one ECAC individual championship and seven America East team championship (six women's, one men's). In 2012, he coached both the men's and women's squads to a sweep of the America East Cross Country Championships, marking the sixth consecutive crown for the women and first men's title in program history. Additionally, Eric Speakman grabbed the individual men's title. His women's teams have ranked third or better in the conference every year since 2002 and the men have six top-three finishes since 2004.

Ronan has also done a remarkable job with the track and field teams. The Seawolves have an all-time high eight NCAA qualifying times in 2007-2008. Four times the Seawolves have had an individual qualify for the NCAA Championships. In America East competition, Ronan has led the Seawolves to more than 20 individual championships since 2002 and has also seen more than 40 different school records fall during his tenure.

Ronan has picked up some hardware of his own during his career, being named the America East Women's Coach of the Year eight years in a row (2005-2012) while also earning his first conference coach of the year nod on the men's side in 2012.

Academically, Ronan's teams are always near the top. Three of his athletes have won the SUNY Chancellor Award, more than ten of them have been named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Individual Team while 12 of his teams have been awarded the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award. He also coached the 2007-2008 runner-up for the America East Woman of the Year Award.

Prior to joining the Stony Brook staff, Ronan spent six years at Providence College as the associate head coach for the men's cross country and track and field programs, while taking on assistant coach duties for the women's programs. Known for his expertise in middle and long distance running events, Ronan assisted the Friars' programs in winning six Big East cross country titles. The men's team won back-to-back conference championships in 1995 and 1996 and captured another title in 1998, while the women's program won three straight Big East rings from 1995-1997. The 1995 women's cross country team garnered the Division I national championship.

During the 1999-2000 season, the Providence women's program won the NCAA regional, defeating 34 teams at the meet, and secured a 10th place finish in its 11th consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships. The men's team finished second regionally and finished in 19th place in its fifth consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships.

While at Providence College, Ronan was associated with the development of two NCAA individual champions, two Olympians, 37 All-Americans and six Big East champions. Before his time with Providence, Ronan spent 1994 as the assistant coach of the men's and women's track and field program at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, and served as head coach of the men's cross country/track and field team at Our Lady of Providence High School from 1986-1988.

A 1986 graduate of Providence, Ronan was an outstanding cross country and track and field athlete. He was among the many All-Americans in Friars' history, receiving the honor in 1983 and 1985. A native of Wexford, Ireland, Ronan won four Big East titles, capturing the 5,000-meter indoor title twice and the 10,000-meter outdoor championship twice. Ronan competed at a world-class level after graduation, finishing third at the 1991 Boston Marathon (2:11.27) and fourth at the 1989 Twin Cities Marathon (2:13.49). He also represented his native Ireland in the marathon at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and competed in the World Cross Country Championships in 1982 and 1989.