MORAGA, Calif. – With the 2022 Cross Country season in full swing, both teams are in the midst of adjusting to new teammates as well as some coaching changes. Coach Marty Kinsey is now taking over the women's team and Coach Harlan Lopez is taking over the men's side. 
 
Coach Marty Kinsey, who joined the Gaels in 2010, is looking forward to the opportunities it gives student athletes.
 
"The benefits of splitting the coaching responsibilities are many. The most significant is that instead of having one coach focus on 60 athletes, you now have two coaches individually focused on 30. It really helps with the student athlete experience and the student athlete getting more attention. In addition, having two head coaches allows for stronger recruiting efforts. Each coach can recruit how they see fit to build the program towards success."
 
When Kinsey was hired in 2010, he was the only paid coach on the staff and the first full-time cross-country coach in program history. Now in his 13^th season, the coaching staff is up to three. 
 
"With the pandemic we've been able to increase our roster sizes and this is where the decision became pretty simple. With about 60 student athletes we really need two head coaches. Harlan has done such a fantastic job with the men it was an easy decision for me to request the teams get split and Harlan get promoted. So, from my perspective, as an alumnus, and as someone who has worked really hard over the last 12 years to build the program, it's pretty cool to see we've been able to achieve this."
 
Coach Harlan Lopez joined the Gaels in the spring of 2018 as an assistant before being promoted to the Associate Head Coach position prior to the 2019-2020 season. Both coaches have developed a great chemistry over the past four years, and Coach Lopez couldn't be more excited about what's to come for the Gaels.
 
"The most rewarding part is seeing the athletes enjoying their experience. Both the men's and women's team saw historic success last season and that has carried over to this season. The teams are excited to come to practice each day to better not only themselves but the team as well."
 
Both the men's and women's teams are back in action next week as they head to the Pacific Invite on Friday September 30.