University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Cross Country Welcomes Grove-McDonough As Head Coach
August 9, 2018 | Cross Country
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The University of North Carolina cross country team announced Wednesday that Andrea Grove-McDonough will take over as the program's head coach ahead of the 2018 season.
"I am extremely excited to join Coach Meaders and his staff and want to thank him, as well as the search committee and Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham, for their confidence in me and the opportunity to lead the resurgence of the Carolina Cross Country programs," Grove-McDonough said. "I look forward to bringing ACC trophies and NCAA Championships back to Chapel Hill. I would also like to take a moment to thank Jamie Pollard and Martin Smith for bringing me to Ames and giving me the chance to be a part of so many incredible moments, without whom I would not be in this position. My family and I cannot wait to get to Chapel Hill and I am eager to meet with the student-athletes and get to work."
Grove-McDonough joins Carolina after a five-year stint as the head cross country and assistant men's and women's track and field coach at Iowa State University. During her time with the Cyclones, she directed the training of all cross country and long distance events ranging from 800 meters to 10,000 meters. Grove-McDonough also oversaw recruiting for the women's programs in her events.
The Minnesota graduate led the Iowa State women's cross country team to the last five NCAA Championships and even coached the 2014 roster to a runner-up finish. Her cross country program has won four of the past five Big 12 Conference Championships, and she has helped develop 11 All-America competitors across the cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field programs. Nine of her athletes achieved the coveted title of conference champions and two of her relays captured conference gold.
Academically, Grove-McDonough's programs at Iowa State excelled just as much in the classroom as on the course. For five consecutive years, her teams received USTFCCCA All-Academic recognition and the women's programs held the highest team GPA across all women's programs at the university.
Prior to her position at Iowa State, Grove-McDonough held the same set of roles at the University of Connecticut beginning in October 2008. While with the Huskies, she led the women's cross country team to their first ever appearance at the NCAA Cross Country Championships and recorded an eighth-place finish at the 2012 NCAAs. Six of her athletes on the indoor and outdoor track and field teams achieved All-America status while 12 individuals and three relays qualified for both NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Grove-McDonough's athletes at Connecticut were also awarded All-Academic team honors by the USTFCCCA from 2009 to 2012.
Due to her success with her two previous universities, Grove-McDonough is a four-time Big 12 Conference Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year, a three-time USTFCCCA Midwest Region Cross Country Coach of the Year, and a two-time USTFCCCA Northeast Region Assistant Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. In 2012, she was named Big East Conference Coach of the Year and USTFCCCA Norteast Region Coach of the Year for cross country. The Big East also awarded the Connecticut indoor track and field coaching staff the honor of Coaching Staff of the Year in 2009.
"My staff and I are very excited to welcome Andrea and her family to Chapel Hill," UNC head coach Harlis Meaders said. "Andrea is one of the most decorated coaches in America and has a history of producing championship teams everywhere she has been. Her students have excelled in the classroom and in competition under her guidance. Her enthusiasm is contagious and her energy is undeniable. We are anxious for her to start working with our current kids and recruiting the next generation of Tar Heels."
"I am extremely excited to join Coach Meaders and his staff and want to thank him, as well as the search committee and Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham, for their confidence in me and the opportunity to lead the resurgence of the Carolina Cross Country programs," Grove-McDonough said. "I look forward to bringing ACC trophies and NCAA Championships back to Chapel Hill. I would also like to take a moment to thank Jamie Pollard and Martin Smith for bringing me to Ames and giving me the chance to be a part of so many incredible moments, without whom I would not be in this position. My family and I cannot wait to get to Chapel Hill and I am eager to meet with the student-athletes and get to work."
Grove-McDonough joins Carolina after a five-year stint as the head cross country and assistant men's and women's track and field coach at Iowa State University. During her time with the Cyclones, she directed the training of all cross country and long distance events ranging from 800 meters to 10,000 meters. Grove-McDonough also oversaw recruiting for the women's programs in her events.
The Minnesota graduate led the Iowa State women's cross country team to the last five NCAA Championships and even coached the 2014 roster to a runner-up finish. Her cross country program has won four of the past five Big 12 Conference Championships, and she has helped develop 11 All-America competitors across the cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field programs. Nine of her athletes achieved the coveted title of conference champions and two of her relays captured conference gold.
Academically, Grove-McDonough's programs at Iowa State excelled just as much in the classroom as on the course. For five consecutive years, her teams received USTFCCCA All-Academic recognition and the women's programs held the highest team GPA across all women's programs at the university.
Prior to her position at Iowa State, Grove-McDonough held the same set of roles at the University of Connecticut beginning in October 2008. While with the Huskies, she led the women's cross country team to their first ever appearance at the NCAA Cross Country Championships and recorded an eighth-place finish at the 2012 NCAAs. Six of her athletes on the indoor and outdoor track and field teams achieved All-America status while 12 individuals and three relays qualified for both NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Grove-McDonough's athletes at Connecticut were also awarded All-Academic team honors by the USTFCCCA from 2009 to 2012.
Due to her success with her two previous universities, Grove-McDonough is a four-time Big 12 Conference Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year, a three-time USTFCCCA Midwest Region Cross Country Coach of the Year, and a two-time USTFCCCA Northeast Region Assistant Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. In 2012, she was named Big East Conference Coach of the Year and USTFCCCA Norteast Region Coach of the Year for cross country. The Big East also awarded the Connecticut indoor track and field coaching staff the honor of Coaching Staff of the Year in 2009.
"My staff and I are very excited to welcome Andrea and her family to Chapel Hill," UNC head coach Harlis Meaders said. "Andrea is one of the most decorated coaches in America and has a history of producing championship teams everywhere she has been. Her students have excelled in the classroom and in competition under her guidance. Her enthusiasm is contagious and her energy is undeniable. We are anxious for her to start working with our current kids and recruiting the next generation of Tar Heels."
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