Switzer announces coaching staff for upcoming season

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Mitch Switzer is pleased to announce his coaching staff for the upcoming 2015-16 season.

Switzer, who will serve as the head track and field coach, has appointed Noah Carroll as the head cross country coach/assistant track and field coach and Jake Keeling as an assistant track and field coach. After serving as interim head coach of the women's track and field team last year, Melissa Daly will stay on as an assistant track and field coach.

"I'm excited to have Noah, Jake and Melissa back in our program for the upcoming year," Switzer said. "All three made huge impacts on our program this past spring and I know the student-athletes are excited to have them back. I believe this rounds out our coaching staff very well and all three will help continue the success Bryant Cross Country/Track and Field has had the last few years."

Prior to joining the Bulldogs, Carroll spent three years as a volunteer assistant for the cross country and track and field programs at Fulton High School in Fulton, N.Y. He wrote and implemented yearly practice and workout plans for the distance runners and saw one qualify for the NYSPHSAA State Championships, two claim sectional titles and one claim a league championship in track. 

A 2012 graduate of Rhode Island, Keeling enjoyed a historic career for the Rams. He is the Atlantic-10 outdoor record holder in the shot put and was a four-time A-10 champion. Keeling won the shot put during the 2011 indoor season, won the javelin in 2011 and 2012 and also claimed the shot put in 2012. Keeling was also a New England Champion in the javelin (2009, 2012) and the shot put (2012).

Daly's first season was a success in Smithfield as she helped the Bulldogs set 17 school records, had seven players take home medals at the NEC Championships, had eight earn All-NEC honors and sent eight to the ECAC/IC4A Championships. The Bulldogs also saw their top-10 lists completely rewritten this past year.

Under her watch, sophomore Hayes Watson enjoyed a record-breaking season in the pole vault. Watson broke the indoor school record in the pole vault with a height of 4.65m and set the outdoor school record in the pole vault with a height of 4.40m. He went on to finish fourth at the indoor New England Championships and fourth at the outdoor Northeast Conference Championships.