BRIDGEWATER, Va. – Bridgewater College Director of Athletics Curt Kendall has announced Jerry Schurink has stepped down from his role as director of NCEA riding. In his place, Luanne Leonard and Beth Howard have accepted the positions of co-head coaches for the program.
Schurink led the equestrian program for 12 years as he took over the program at the start of the 2011-12 season.
"We would like to thank Jerry for all his contributions to the program over the years," said Kendall. "His guidance led our teams to numerous successes, including multiple national champions, and we wish him well in the future."
Since recently transitioning the program to NCEA, Schurink guided the Eagles to the national spotlight as the team was inside the national rankings in the single-discipline NCEA polls for most of last season and qualified for its first-ever NCEA Championship this past spring.
Last season, Schurink guided
Kelsey Quinn to a second team All-America selection and was named the ODAC Rider of the Year to go along with her All-ODAC honors.
Prior to the move to NCEA, Schurink coached 11 riders to national qualifications, including Melissa Lempicki who won an IDA National Championship (first level) in 2019 and Zellie Wothers who was the IHSA National Champion (intermediate equitation on flat). Schurink also saw the team to numerous regional achievements, as well.
"After 35 years of higher education and the last 13 years at Bridgewater as director of riding, I have decided to lease to pursue opportunities as a professional freelance clinician," said Schurink. "The last three years [with the NCEA team] have been particularly rewarding."
Stepping into the new co-head coaching role, Leonard joins the program after spending the last several years coaching HR Windy Springs in the IEA (Interscholastic Equestrian Association) at the middle and high school level. Prior to her time there, she spent several years coaching at Clover Grove. She guided that team to a pair of National Reserve Championships, including the most recent one in 2019.
"Luanne brings a great deal of coaching experience with her that will be instrumental to the continued success of the program," said Kendall. "Her experience at the peak of collegiate riding is an added bonus with our young team of riders."
Leonard won the 1978 Cacchione Cup as a senior at Penn State. She won the national championship after just her second year of collegiate riding and has been a coach nearly ever since. She has been an instructor since 1982.
"As a parent of a Bridgewater College alum, I am proud that the athletic department is giving me the opportunity to coach the NCEA riding team," said Leonard.
She holds a Graduate "A" certification from the United State Pony Club in which she is a board member and a past president. In addition to her career in riding, Leonard taught fourth grade at Augusta County Public Schools for over 20 years before retiring in 2022.
Leonard, a 1978 graduate of Penn State, holds a degree in animal production. She got her start working at The Ridge Farm in New Jersey working with former Olympian Nona Garson following graduation.
Howard steps in as co-head coach of NCEA riding with a prolific coaching and riding career.
"Beth is another great addition to the coaching staff," said Kendall. "Her experiences and knowledge of riding will be helpful in moving the team forward."
Recently, Howard guided riders to wins in Ariat Medal classes and the Oak Ridge Medal final in 2021. She also saw winners of the High Adult Champion Atlantic Coach League in 2007 and 2008, and the AO Hunter Atlantic Coach League Championship in 2004.
"I'm very excited to step into this new role with Bridgewater," said Howard. "I look forward to working with the riders and also look forward to continued success for years to come."
Howard was involved with the Glenmore Hunt Pony Club from 2007-2019 in many areas, including spots on the board of directors, coaching camps and rallies and teaching horse management strategies. She has also coached riders to victory in several adult jumper classics, including the 2010 WIHS Adult Jumper finals and the Adult Jumper Champion at Devon in 2007 and 2008.
As a rider, Howard was the 1998 AHSA Reserve National Champion AO Jumper and earned acclaim riding Stormin' Norman, garnering ribbons up and down the east coast in the 1990s.
Howard holds an accounting degree from Dominion Business School. She also holds a Graduate "B" rating from the USPC.
Leonard, Howard and the riding team start off the 2023-24 season on Sunday, October 8, as they head to Sweet Briar for a meet set to start at 10 am.
