Reading, Pa. (Aug. 18, 2010) - Alvernia University announced Monday the hiring of Jason Kilgore as the head coach of Men's and Women's Track and Field. Kilgore replaces Laura Gingrich who returned to take the reigns of the Crusader field hockey program.

Kilgore joins the Alvernia staff after serving two years as the Assistant Track and Field Coach at Division I Lafayette College. While at Lafayette, Kilgore's responsibilities included recruiting, meet and practice planning, and assisting with budgeting and travel arrangements. Additionally, he was responsible for the creation and implementation of the training programs for sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers. Kilgore was part of a program that produced nine Patriot League Championships, five All-East honorees, eight school records and 18 All-Patriot honorees.

“Being able to take over a program in its infancy is something that really interested me,” admitted Kilgore. “The MAC has some great teams and some great coaches. Being able to compete in a conference of this caliber will be challenging, but if we can become one of the best in the MAC we should be able to get a steady NCAA showing.”

Prior to his time at Lafayette Kilgore served as the head women's cross country and track and field coach at his alma mater West Chester University for three seasons. At West Chester he guided a team that produced the university's highest finishes and point totals at the PSAC Championships in 15 years. The program also earned multiple USTFCCA Academic All-American Honors.

Kilgore graduated from West Chester University where he was a member of the Track and Field team from 2000-2005. He was team captain from 2002-2005 and was named team MVP in 2003 and 2005. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with minors in athletic coaching and special education and is currently pursuing his Masters in Exercise Science and Health Promotion at California University of PA.

Alvernia Athletic Director Bill Stiles, who chaired the committee that hired Kilgore, is looking forward to a day when Track and Field will be a signature program for the Crusaders.

“I am delighted to have Jason as our new track and field coach,” said Stiles. “His experience as a student-athlete and head coach at West Chester University and, most recently, his experience at Lafayette, made him the ideal choice. His passion for coaching and for track and field was evident from our first meeting. He is a proven recruiter and I am confident that we have found the person to successfully build our track & field programs.”

Kilgore, who holds USATF Level 2 certification in sprints, hurdles, relays, and jumps and is working toward Level 3 in sprints, takes the reigns for a program that in its first year fielded a roster just shy of 30 competitors, and turned in a pair of conference champions in the men's indoor and outdoor 400m dash.

“It's a very tough, competitive conference,” said Kilgore of the MAC. “Moving up is going to take some time. I think the program had a really nice inaugural season, with some great performances and individual conference champions. Realistically, I'd like to have both programs finish somewhere in the middle of the conference this season and then build from there. I would like to build on our number of student-athletes who qualify for the conference championships and earn a few more conference champions. There are also a couple student athletes that have a great chance of reaching the ECAC and NCAA qualifying standards and I am looking forward to seeing the University's first NCAA qualifier.”

Kilgore will also assume duties as the coordinator of Alvernia's fitness center. The indoor track and field schedule will open in December. MAC Indoors are scheduled for February 26 at Lehigh University. MAC Outdoors will be held May 5-7 at Messiah College.