"I am very excited to be taking over a cross country program with such a strong foundation," said Hoey. "With a number of excellent returning runners combined with some very talented incoming freshmen, I am thrilled and eager to begin. I wish to continue building on the foundation which has been laid and help take both the women's cross country and track and field programs to the next level."
"We are very pleased to have someone of Kris' caliber to coach our women's cross country and track and field athletes," said Walsh. "She is a highly accomplished track athlete in her own right, as well as a proven, successful coach."
Hoey, the wife of W&L Director of Track and Field and Running Programs, Nate Hoey, begins her appointment already claiming a distinguished career as a athlete and coach. She served as the interim head cross country and track and field coach at West Chester University during the 2001-02 season and was the assistant coach at WCU from 1998-01. During her one season as head coach, she helped mentor one All-American, three Academic All-Americans, two national qualifiers, four conference champions, 22 all-conference athletes while helping her athletes set four new school records. Her men's and women's cross country teams were named to the National All-Academic team.
Last season, Hoey served as the head boys cross country coach at Rockbridge County High School and as a volunteer assistant track coach at VMI where she worked with the steeplechasers, middle distance and distance runners. At RCHS, Hoey led the Wildcats to a runner-up finish at the AA Virginia Boys State Championship and guided John Crews to the individual district, region and state championship and a 13th place finish at the 2003 Junior National Cross Country Championships.
A 1998 graduate of West Chester with a bachelor of science in health and physical education, Hoey was a four-year letterwinner for both the cross country and track and field programs. She was twice named the cross country team MVP and served as team captain during her senior season when she earned All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors. In track and field, Hoey was twice named All-ECAC and garnered All-PSAC recognition as a senior.
Active in the sport, Hoey competed in the steeplechase at the 2001 USA Outdoor National Track and Field Championships and was the Olympic Development Steeplechase Champion at the 2001 Penn Relays, setting a meet record. In addition, Hoey placed 11th at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials. She is a USA Track and Field Level I and Level II Certified Coach.