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The Bard College Department of Athletics and Recreation has hired Billy Poole-Harris as Head Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track & Field Coach, it was announced Monday.

A veteran coach with experience ranging from high school to NCAA Div. I, Poole-Harris has been mentoring, coaching and recruiting student-athletes for 17 years. Most recently, he was an assistant coach specializing in distance for the cross country and track & field teams at Div. I Indiana State University.

"I'm very excited and I'm looking forward to engaging with student-athletes and the whole student body," Poole-Harris said. "The location is magnificent, not only for cross country and track, but it's a great place to live. I found real comfort in (Interim Athletic Director) David Lindholm's leadership style and I can see that Athletics is headed in the right direction."

"From the moment our students and staff met Coach Poole-Harris we were impressed by his knowledge and experience in distance running, but most of all by his passion for coaching and mentoring young people through these sports," Lindholm said. "We're thrilled to welcome Billy to our community and eager for these programs, and the individual cross country and track & field athletes, to grow and develop with his leadership."

Just this past spring, Poole-Harris helped the Indiana State men break a school record in the distance relay at the Drake Relays. Prior to joining Indiana State, Poole-Harris was an assistant at Div. I Northern Illinois University, and before that, he was the longtime (2006-18) head cross country coach and assistant track & field coach at Whitney M. Young High School in Chicago.

He is also the founder, owner and President of Chicago's Windy City Hammers Youth Track Club, which he started in 2012 with 13 athletes and has since boasted a roster of more than 100. The organization raises money every year to supplement the athletic efforts of low-income athletes.

"After conversations with current student-athletes, I truly believe bridging the gap between the athletics community and the academic community at Bard is a priority early on," Poole-Harris said. "We can be very intelligent, and we can be engaged, and we can be competitive. I want to establish with the team a culture of hard work and respect for each other."

Poole-Harris has a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science and Fitness Management from Concordia University.