Bio

Chanra Kao enters his third year as the jumps coach for the Bryant University track and field team during the 2021-22 season. 

Since arriving at Bryant, Kao has helped Bryant to some of their most successful seasons in program history. He has seen two jumpers earn ALL-NEC honors, including a gold medal in 2021 for Jasmine Hope in long jump.

Kao comes to Smithfield after spending the 2018 season with the Harvard track and field squad. While with the Crimson, Kao assisted in all operations of the program including home meet management, travel, and recruiting, while specializing in all aspects of vertical jumps and multi-events. Kao also was the Equipment Operation Assistant at Harvard, assisting in all aspects of athletic equipment management.

Prior to Harvard, Kao got his start in collegiate coaching in January of 2017 when he joined the Babson Track and Field program as an assistant coach. Kao specialized in all jumping events while also planning daily practices and implementing programs like sprints, plyometrics, and strength & conditioning.

Kao's coaching resume also includes a five-and-a-half-year stint as the Boy's Gymnastics/Outdoor Track & Field Assistant Coach at Lowell Public School. At the high school level, Kao developed discipline, skills, and fundamentals within each sport. He also led the track and field team to three conference championships, three MIAA Division I titles and one All-State title.

In addition to his duties with Bryant, Kao serves as a Language Specialist with the Baystate Interpreters where he is a professional freelance Khmer Interpreter in the Greater Boston area within the field of education and healthcare.

Kao graduated from UMass Lowell in 2013 with a BSBA in Management with a Concentration in Marketing before earning his Masters in Sports Leadership from Northeastern in 2017.