New Women's Track and Cross Country Assistant Coach Named
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
August 12, 1998
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State University Director of Athletics Merritt Norvell announced today the hiring of Kelli Bert as the assistant coach for women's track and field/cross country. Bert comes to MSU after three years as the head women's cross country and track and field coach at Division III Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y. Her primary responsibilities at MSU will be the distance events.
"Kelli's strength is in her experience, both from running at Michigan and coaching at Ithaca College and Binghamton University," said Angela Goodman, MSU Director of Women's Track and Field/Cross Country. "She is a great addition to our program because she is familiar with the Big Ten. She is interested in building a program, so we should work well together."
During her stint at Ithaca, Bert earned the USTCA NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field District Coach of the Year award in 1998 and Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year honors in 1996 and 1998. She also coached two-time Division III All-American Heidi Nichols.
"I have a great deal of respect and pride in the Big Ten," Bert said. "I am excited about the opportunity to return to the Big Ten and to the state of Michigan.
"I hope to assist in taking Michigan State to the next level. My experience as an athlete and coach at the Big Ten, Southeastern Conference and in the northeast should allow me to assist in recruiting, bring in some walk-ons and raise the standard of performance."
A Michigan native, Bert was a four-year letterwinner in cross country and track and field at the University of Michigan from 1983-87. She captained the track and field squad her junior and senior years, while also serving as cross country captain as a senior. During her track career, Bert qualified for nationals on four occasions.
Bert graduated from Michigan in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. Her first coaching job came at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor where she served as the assistant women's track and field coach in 1989. From there she moved to Huron High School in Ann Arbor, where her duties included head women's track and field/cross country coach and physical education instructor from 1989-90.
In 1990, Bert entered the collegiate coaching profession, serving as assistant track and field/cross country coach at the University of Georgia. After a three year stint in Athens, Bert took over as head men's and women's track and field/cross country coach at Binghamton University, where she coached five all-americans. While at Binghamton, Bert also served as a physical education instructor. She coached at Binghamton for two years before moving on to Ithaca College in August 1995.
Bert becomes the first assistant to join Goodman's staff since Goodman was hired July 13, 1998.