Jan. 8, 2009

FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason Director of Men's and Women's Track and Field Andrew Gerard announced today the hiring of Kevin McGorty as an assistant coach for the men's and women's track and field teams. McGorty will focus primarily on coaching the pole vault as well as the decathlon and heptathlon.

"I am extremely pleased to have been able to bring Kevin on board," Gerard said. "I have known of him and have been aware of the athletes that he has produced in northern Virginia for more than a decade and when I thought about adding someone to work with our pole vaulters and multi-event athletes, he was the first person that came to mind.

"Being able to add him to the staff and have him develop this area of our program is definitely a huge plus for our current student-athletes, future student-athletes and the whole Mason track and field program. I am very excited about his contributions so far and he's only been with us a short time. I look forward to working with him as we develop this area of our program over the coming years."

McGorty previously coached at the collegiate level at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill from 1988-1992. Focusing on the decathlon, heptathlon, high jump and pole vault, McGorty coached a total of two All-Americans and nine ACC Champions during his four years with the Tar Heels. Two of his high jumpers and one decathlete qualified for the Olympic Trials.

After a brief break from the coaching profession, McGorty returned to the ranks in 1997, serving as the assistant track coach at Centreville High School until the 2007 season. McGorty coached the hurdles, jumps, pole vault, sprints and throws for the Wildcats. In the pole vault, McGorty coached multiple district, regional and state champions for both the boys' and girls' teams, including a high school All-American that topped out at 12 ft. 7 ¾ in. He was also instrumental in the development of the USA Track and Field High School Athlete of the Year in Ricky Harris.

Before entering the coaching ranks, McGorty was a world class track and field athlete, competing in the US Olympic Trials in both 1988 and 1992. He also was a member of the USA/Visa Decathlon Team from 1988-90 and 1992. McGorty attended college at UNC and competed on the track and field team from 1986-89, earning NCAA All-America status in the decathlon in 1987-88. He won the ACC Championship in the decathlon from 1986-88 and was named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Track and Field Team in 2002.

McGorty taught elementary school children for 12 years. He currently teaches in the Gifted and Talented Center in Fairfax County. McGorty has three sons, Sean, 13, Ryan, 11, and Brandon, 9.