On Tuesday morning, Marist Athletics announced that Chuck Williams, the head coach of the women’s cross country program and an assistant with Marist’s track and field programs, had stepped down from both roles.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to have been an athlete and coach for the Running Red Foxes for the last three decades,” Williams said in a release. “In that time, I was fortunate to work with so many amazing young women and men who truly elevated our program athletically, but I am equally proud of everything they accomplished in the classroom and off the track.”
“I am eternally grateful to [director of men’s and women’s cross country and track] Pete Colaizzo for being an amazing coach and mentor to me during my time here at Marist. Although this ultimately was not an easy decision, I know that our program is in great hands. The future of Marist track is very bright, and I am looking forward to time with my family who have supported me every step of my journey.”
Williams had been associated with Marist since the mid-1990s when he began his career as a student-athlete and later became an assistant cross country/track and field coach immediately after graduating in 1999. 2024 was his 16th season at the helm of the women’s cross-country program.
“On behalf of the entire athletics department, I want to thank Chuck for his three decades with our cross country and track programs,” said director of Athletics Tim Murray in the release. “As a student-athlete and as a head coach, Chuck worked extremely hard in support of his student-athletes. I thank Chuck and his family for all of the sacrifices that he has made in support of our student-athletes.”
The women’s distance program won the ECAC championships in 2009 and 2015 under Williams and finished in the top 12 of the region from 2017-2019.
The release did not specify if and how Marist would replace Williams. Currently, Colaizzo and assistant coach Billy Poole-Harris are still listed on the team’s official coaching staff.
The news comes almost three weeks after Marist’s women’s cross-country team finished 29th in the NCAA Northeast Regional.
Edited by Luke Sassa
Photo from Marist Athletics via Stockton Photo
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