Ford-Centonze Takes Over Dartmouth Women

Courtesy of Dartmouth Athletic Communications

HANOVER, N.H. -- Dartmouth head women’s track and field coach Sandy Ford-Centonze returns as the head coach for its women’s cross country program this fall, in addition to her duties that she has had for the last 18 years.

"We are excited that Sandy has agreed to take on this additional leadership role for our program," said Acting Director of Athletics and Recreation Bob Ceplikas. "Her administrative oversight of the entire women's program will be a tremendous asset as we push that program back to the top of the Ivy League. We are fortunate to have two experienced head coaches in Sandy and (men's head coach) Barry Harwick. This restructuring will provide our student-athletes with the proper support network for success in every aspect of their Dartmouth lives — especially on the track."

Ford-Centonze was the head coach of women’s cross country from 1992-95 and is replacing Maribel Souther, who was also an assistant for the women’s track and field team and the head coach of the women’s cross country team for the last six years. In Souther’s first year as head women’s cross country coach, her team had it’s highest finish at the Ivy League championships since 1998. In addition, Melanie Schorr (’06) earned her first appearance at the Cross Country NCAAs. In 2005, Schorr earned her second trip and achieved All-American status grabbing 22nd place.

Ford-Centonze has been the Herb '30 and Marge Chase head coach of women's track and field for the past 18 years, leading the Big Green to unprecedented heights in the ECAC and Heptagonal championships. During the 2002 outdoor season Ford-Centonze coached her first All-American Heptathlete when Shaina Damm placed eighth at the NCAA championships. The 2003 outdoor season was the start of the NCAA Regional competition, and the Big Green women have had qualifiers for the meet each year. Since 2003, the Big Green women have been named as one of the nation's top All-Academic Team by the US Track & Field Coaches Association.

She and men’s head coach Barry Harwick have split duties on the men’s track squad since the two began coaching at Dartmouth. Ford-Centonze has been coaching the male sprinters and hurdlers, while Harwick has coached the male middle distance and distance runners.

The 2006 season was a record breaking year for Coach Ford-Centonze’s sprint/hurdle crew. In all they saw five records fall, with Fatih Stanley ’06 making history at the outdoor Heptagonal Championships by being the first athlete to win both the 100m and 200m, and the first Dartmouth athlete to take home the 200m crown. The women’s team brought home the third place 2007 New England trophy with a total of only 18 competing women.

She will be joined by new assistant coach Mark Coogan, who joined the staff earlier this summer and comes to Hanover following a stint as the assistant coach of men’s and women’s track and field and cross country at Tufts University.