Gerard Hires Leslie as Assistant Cross Country and Track Coach

George Mason Athletics Women's Cross Country 9/13/2016 4:22:00 PM

FAIRFAX, Va. – Cory Leslie's myriad of experiences spoke volumes to George Mason cross country and track and field coach Andrew Gerard.

There were Leslie's collegiate running days at Ohio State where he helped the Buckeyes mix it up in the Big Ten and on the national level. Leslie was also on the coaching staff of up-and-coming Furman, which has risen into a top 15 cross country program. Plus, Leslie's professional running experience, which has taken him two U.S. Olympic Trials and several international races, provides him with another unique perspective.

To Gerard, Leslie felt like the ideal candidate to add to the coaching staff to strengthen the Patriots' cross country and track programs. On Tuesday, Gerard announced the hiring of Cory Leslie as an assistant cross country and track and field coach. Leslie will assist Gerard in coaching both the men's and women's cross country teams as well as the middle distance and distance events in track and field.

“We're very excited to have him on staff,” Gerard said. “I think he has a unique skillset, which I think will give our student-athletes and our coaching staff a unique set of resources in terms of his experiences, in terms of his coaching background, to draw upon and be able to give our student-athletes every chance at being successful.”

Leslie, a six-time All-American at Ohio State, spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach at Furman, where he helped build the Paladins into one of top cross country programs in the country.

“I'm unbelievably excited,” Leslie said. “From the second Coach Gerard and I had our first conversation it seemed like a place that I would be extremely interested and intrigued by. Once I got on campus and met with the staff and the athletic department it was really a no-brainer that this was a place where I could not only see myself but we could do a lot of great things. On top of what Coach Gerard has already achieved and accomplished at this level, hopefully there are some things I can bring. A lot of things have already been built on the track and field side, hopefully I can bring some things to the distance and cross country side that can make us that A-10 favorite all three seasons of the year.”

At Furman, he helped head coach Robert Gary guide the men's and women's cross country teams to six Southern Conference titles and two NCAA Championships appearances. Last year, the men cracked the top 15 and finished 13th. He helped Furman secure recruiting classes that ranked in the top 10 in the nation three times (twice for the men, once with the women).

He also coached 16 Southern Conference champions on the track while at Furman. At the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships in June he mentored two All-Americans – Troy Reeder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Allie Buchalski in the 5,000 meters.

He arrived at Furman in 2012 after a decorated career at Ohio State, in which he earned All-American honors six times. He was twice named a First Team All-American, taking third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championships and helping the Buckeyes finish eighth in the distance medley relay at the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships.

He was a five-time All-Big Ten selection and owns four Ohio State school records (800 meters, 1,000 meters, mile and distance medley relay).

“Going back to his background at Ohio State, when you're in the Big Ten, you're in team battles,” Gerard said. “Team point scores are important. He has that background as well… (After his interview) we were all convinced he could help us move the needle with not just the middle distance and distance events but really the whole program. Especially his background at Ohio State and the team approach there. That experience really was quite good as far as we were concerned in terms of giving us more versatility, more options. He certainly has more appreciation for all the events.”

Leslie has continued running at an elite level since he graduated from Ohio State.
He has twice qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing ninth in 2012 and placing eighth in the 2016 trials in July. Earlier this month, he took 15th in the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile in New York. He posted a mile time of 3:59 in the same field as Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz.

While running with the Furman Elite running club, he set North Carolina state records at the 2015 Camel City Mile, winning the mile in 3:56.99, and the 2013 Camel City Indoor Mile with a time of 3:57.81. He also set a South Carolina state record at the 2013 Blue Shoes Mile with a winning time of 3:56.18. He has competed in several international meets on the Diamond League circuit from Rome to Tokyo.

Leslie, a native of Huron, Ohio, graduated from Ohio State in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in education, with a concentration in leadership and humanities. He was a four-time Ohio State Scholar Athlete and an Academic All-Big Ten selection.

Print Friendly Version

George Mason University Athletics

Scoreboard

Gerard Hires Leslie as Assistant Cross Country and Track Coach