George Mason University Athletics

Cory Leslie enters his first season as an assistant coach with the George Mason men's and women's cross country and track teams during the 2016-17 season.

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.

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). 

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.