Switzer adds two to coaching staff
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University cross country/track and field director Mitch Switzer is pleased to announce two new coaching hires for the upcoming year.
The Bulldogs welcome Shay Austin-Leary to the program as the new throwing coach and welcome back Brian Fuller as a full-time assistant coach of the cross country and track and field team.
Austin-Leary comes to Bryant with an extensive and successful coaching background from both the high school and collegiate levels. Most recently, Austin-Leary was the Assistant Coach of the Throwing Program at Middletown High School after a successful year at UMass Dartmouth. While at UMass Dartmouth, Austin-Leary was named the USTFCCCA Division III New England Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year as her athletes broke every single indoor and outdoor throwing school record. Austin-Leary also developed four All-Americans in weight, hammer, shot and javelin. She also led the UMass Dartmouth javelin squad to become the number one Division III team with an average throw of 62.17m.
"I think Coach Shay is going to be a great addition to our program," said Switzer. "She comes to us with extensive knowledge of all of the throwing events and proven success during her time at UMass Dartmouth. She has a passion for individual coaching and the technical aspects of each of the events and I'm excited to see how her enthusiasm for team development can help everyone across the program."
Fuller has spent the past year at Bryant and will now continue as full-time status. During his past two seasons at Bryant, Fuller has helped coach two All-Northeast Conference runners in cross country as well as one All-Rookie Team selection during each of the indoor and outdoor seasons. Fuller also helped the men's track and field team finish with its highest score ever at the NEC Championship with 58 points this past spring. Outside of the Northeast Conference, Fuller coached four All-New England and three All-East runners during the indoor season. During the 2018-19 campaign, Fuller helped the Bulldogs achieve six new long-distance records and 47 top-10 performances across the indoor and outdoor seasons.
"It's been a great first year at Bryant," said Fuller. "I've had a wonderful reception by the student-athletes as well as the program and athletic department staff. I'm very excited to be a part of a fast-growing team and I look forward to keeping that momentum going."
"I am thrilled to have Coach Fuller in the program full-time," Switzer explained. "He has done a great job over the past year with the team and I can only imagine what we'll be able to accomplish having him around full-time going forward. His passion for Bryant University and the student-athletes we work with is outstanding. We have a lot of building right now in the program and he will be an integral part of that moving forward."
The cross country team kicks off the season this September with a full schedule release coming later this summer. Be sure to follow the Bryant cross country and track and field teams on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for an inside look at the program.