GLENSIDE - The Arcadia University Department of Athletics and Recreation has announced the elevation of
Kirsten O'Malley to the Head Men's and Women's Cross Country/Track and Field Coach position.
"I'd first like to thank Brian Granata, Mike Hebenstreit, and the entire search committee for giving me this opportunity," O'Malley said. "It's been such a privilege to be a part of the Arcadia community and this program over the last year, and now being able to lead this special group of student-athletes is so exciting."
O'Malley was part of a coaching staff that guided the women's cross country team to three All-Conference selections and a regional ranking last season. In all, Arcadia's cross country and track & field teams had a combined five All-MAC selections, with Myles Sams becoming the first athlete to qualify for the NCAA Division III Nationals in triple jump, finishing 19th.
"Coach O'Malley was instrumental in the success of the Arcadia program over the course of the last year," Executive Director of Athletics Brian Granata said. "She did a tremendous job recruiting a large class of incoming student-athletes for this fall and helped develop the first national qualifier in program history in May. Coach O'Malley is dedicated to supporting her student-athletes, and we are excited to see what the future holds for our program."
Prior to Arcadia, O'Malley served as an Assistant Coach at Susquehanna University, where she helped lead the River Hawks to the men's 2022 Landmark Conference Indoor and Outdoor Championships while also leading the women to the 2022 Landmark Indoor Championships.
In addition to the team success, O'Malley coached the 2022 Landmark Male Field Athlete of the Year, three All-Region jumpers, five Landmark Conference champions, and four Landmark Field Athletes of the Week.
"The support and commitment to enhancing the student-athlete experience at Arcadia is unrivaled, and I couldn't be more thrilled for this next chapter," O'Malley explained.
Prior to her coaching career, O'Malley had a decorated career at both Division II Bloomsburg University and Division I Mount St. Mary's. O'Malley was a Division II Second Team All-American in the triple jump in 2018, a three-time National Qualifier for the Division II Track and Field National Championships, three-time PSAC Champion, and 16-time PSAC Podium Finisher. She holds four Bloomsburg school records and was an NEC Conference Champion, five-time Scholar Athlete, Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award recipient, and Underclass Female Athlete of the Year.
O'Malley graduated from Bloomsburg in 2019 with a degree in Exercise Science, and earned her Master's in College Student Affairs from Bloomsburg in 2021.
