New Head Cross Country Coach and Activities and Athletic Coordinator Nora Doyle ’17 is on a mission to make a difference in the Marist community.
“I love being back at Marist after graduating, seeing all my runners, but also knowing that I am making an impact on students that are not just athletes,” said Doyle.
As a student at Marist, Doyle was a part of the cross country and track team, while also Irish dancing. She danced for a local school for over 15 years. After Marist she ran cross country and track at The College of St. Benedict in Minnesota. From there she got her masters at Northwestern in sports management.
Doyle’s new job as Athletic Coordinator consists of planning transportation, collecting physicals, scheduling for boys and girls cross country, boys and girls track, girls wrestling, girls flag football, and girls swimming.
“There is something new and exciting every day,” said Doyle.
As the Activities Coordinator, Doyle works with the student council, plans homecomings, rallies, and helps the student life office with any outreach/drives or projects they are pushing.
“I want to make sure everyone feels involved and feels like they are able to be involved such as when it comes to volleyball and football games, making sure everyone feels comfortable and wanted in the student section,” said Doyle.
Marist has seen a drop in student attendance at sporting events. In her new position, Doyle has been trying to increase the amount of students at Marist sporting events. She has been trying to make themes for the games easier, and make everyone feel welcome.
Doyle was announced to be the new head coach at the beginning of the summer, and started training her runners immediately after.
“It’s empowering to have a female coach that was in the exact same position as the current runners are in. Knowing what it’s like but also knowing what I felt during it and how I can make sure all my runners find love for running just as I did,” said Doyle.
The former Marist Head Coach Patrick Quinn ran the girls program for over 50 years until he stepped down from his position to let Doyle have the amazing opportunity.
“We also really have to beat Benet this year,” said Doyle.
The Marist girls cross country program has never beat Benet in history. This year Doyle has been trying to switch up how she runs practices. She goes off how her runners feel after or before runs and not how the plan should go, also while making sure everyone knows how to properly fuel themselves for runs.
“Coach Doyle pushes us to our limits and knows the pain we go through. Everyone on the team knows everything she has us do will only make us better,” said junior Abby McClorey, varsity cross country runner.
As a former runner for Coach Quinn, she has been in their shoes and knows how to make her runners experience better.
“I want to make sure everyone knows my door is always open to talk,” said Doyle.
