Kevin McGorty finished his ninth season at George Mason in 2017-18 as an assistant coach for the men's and women's track and field teams. McGorty focuses primarily on coaching the pole vault, high jump, and multi-events.
In 2017, McGorty helped guide John Seals to the NCAA Indoor Championships in the heptathlon. Seals broke the school and A-10 record in the heptathlon (5,770 points) and finished 14th at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships to earn USATFCCCA Second Team All-America honors. Seals, a three-time NCAA East Preliminary qualifier in the high jump in the outdoor season, also earned CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-America honors.
In 2014, McGorty's athletes set school and conference records led by Mandissa Marshall who finished eighth overall at the NCAA indoor championships and took home both the indoor and outdoor individual conference titles. Marshall finished the season as Mason's top mark in both indoor and outdoor pole vault as well as second on the A-10's all-time indoor list and set a new outdoor conference championship and overall record. Had four athletes qualify for the ECAC-IC4A outdoor Championships.
During his time at Mason, Coach McGorty has been instrumental in developing multiple CAA conference champions. Continuing to build on a successful 2011 season, McGorty helped coach Mandissa Marshall to a CAA and ECAC title in 2012 while also watching her break the school indoor and outdoor records in the pole vault. Marshall also advanced to the NCAA Championship in the pole vault. McGorty also helped Patrick Dietrick to a conference championship in the pole vault while coaching two multi-event athletes to conference titles and IC4A and ECAC qualifying marks (Gustavo Osorio - Decathlon, IC4A) and (Amanda Denger - Heptathlon, ECAC).
At the 2011 CAA Championships, McGorty’s athletes captured four conference titles including both men’s and women’s pole vault titles as well as the decathlon and heptathlon titles. In the 2011 men’s championship pole vault, Mason athletes produced an impressive 1-2-3 sweep. McGorty’s athletes have been making their mark at the ECAC and IC4A Championship level as well. Last season also saw GMU’s first NCAA qualifier in the women’s pole vault when Mandissa Marshall qualified for both the regional and NCAA Championship with a jump of 4.00m.
McGorty previously coached at the collegiate level at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill from 1988-1992. Focusing on the decathlon, heptathlon, and vertical jumps, McGorty coached 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. McGorty coached the hurdles, jumps, pole vault, sprints and throws for the Wildcats. In the pole vault, McGorty coached multiple state champions for both the boys' and girls' teams, including two high school All-Americans that topped out at 12 ft. 7 ¾ in. and 16ft. 4 3/4in. He also coached two high school national champions, one in the girl’s high jump and the other in the men’s hurdles. Coach McGorty’s former athlete, Ricky Harris, was named USA Track and Field High School Athlete of the Year.
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 earning NCAA All-America status in the decathlon in 1987 and 1988. 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 is an elementary school teacher in the Advanced Academic Center in Fairfax County. He has three sons, Sean, Ryan and Brandon.
