HACKENSACK, N.J. - FDU and Northeast Conference Hall of Famer Sharlene Milwood-Lee '94 announced Tuesday her resignation as the Head Men's and Women's Cross Country/Track and Field Coach.  After nearly a quarter century leading the Burgundy and Blue, Milwood-Lee is leaving to pursue a similar opportunity in the collegiate ranks.

One of the most decorated student-athletes in FDU history, 'Coach Lee' was an 11-time NEC champion as a Knight and was a two-time NEC Outstanding Performer of the Meet at the NEC Indoor Track and Field Championships. Qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in 1992 and 1993 for the 400 meter race, Milwood-Lee would qualify for the 400m in the 1993 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Milwood-Lee also helped her 4x400m relay team capture a gold medal at the 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival.

Owning over five program records, including 300m (39.43) and 400m (54.60), Milwood-Lee transitioned to the coaching ranks in 1997 beginning her career as an assistant coach with Montclair State (NCAA Division III - NJAC) for a two-year stint and then moving on to Bergen Community College (NJCAA - Region XIX) from 1997-98 before returning to her alma mater as an assistant coach in 1998.

Named interim head coach in 2002 after three years as an assistant (1998-2001), Milwood-Lee earned the head coach position in time for the 2003-04 academic year. Completing 21 seasons at the helm, Milwood-Lee took the program to new heights in all three sports.
 
Under Milwood-Lee's tutelage, Knights track and field found their sweet spot indoors with the FDU women taking home the crown in each of the last two NEC contested championships. The back-to-back NEC Women's Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, Milwood-Lee coached over 25 First Team All-NEC honorees indoors on the women's side, including six this past season. Nine women's student-athletes have gone on to take indoor program records while eight Knights have gone on to be named Most Outstanding Performers at the NEC Championships.

Two men's Knights have qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships with Sam Chelanga (5000m) and Salif Mane (triple jump) earning trips in 2007 and 2022, respectively. 20 men's track and field student-athletes have been named First Team All-NEC performers indoors under her watch with the team finishing third at the 2020 NEC Indoor Track and Field Championship, improving to a second-place finish in 2022.

Outdoors, Milwood-Lee coached 15 men's First Team All-NEC honorees and 14 on the women's side and would lead the Knights to nine outdoor NCAA Championship qualifiers, including Mane last spring.

Leading men's cross country to a third place finish in her first campaign on the course, the Englewood, N.J. native would coach one men's All-American, one NEC Individual Men's Cross Country Champion, one NEC Men's Most Outstanding Performer, two NEC Men's Rookie of the Year and six NEC men's All-Conference honorees. On the women's side, Milwood-Lee coached three All-NEC performers and one student-athlete to a spot on the NEC All-Rookie Team.

Away from the track, Milwood-Lee was a stalwart supporter at athletic events for all sports, organizing send-offs for teams participating in NCAA Championships. Each Thanksgiving, Milwood-Lee and her family hosted a Thanksgiving meal at the Rothman Center for international student-athletes and those Knights unable to go home for the holiday.

"On behalf of everyone in our Department, I thank Sharlene for her dedication and care for not just our cross country and track and field programs, but for everyone donning the Burgundy and Blue," said Director of Athletics Bradford Hurlbut. "A proud alumna and longtime member of our community, Sharlene epitomizes what it means to be a Knight and has been a tremendous coach and leader of student-athletes during the last 24 years."

A national search for her successor will begin immediately.