BRENDON GILROY, a former McNeese athlete, is in his first full season as the university's head track and field coach.

He was chosen for the position last summer when his predecessor Ty Sevin was tabbed to become the pole vault coach for the US Olympic team.

Gilroy had served the 2007 season as the head cross country coach and as assistant track and field coach.

He has been in charge of recruiting since he joined the staff and his recruiting class of 2007 was judged among the best in the nation by Track and Field News.

A native of Ireland, Gilroy was a three year cross county and track letterman at McNeese where he received his bachelor degree in Chemistry in 1993 and his master in Health & Human Performance in 1999.

He had spent nine years as head cross country and track coach at Iowa High School and had been head coach for the Lake Area Express Track Club for 10 seasons.

During his prep coaching career Gilroy had been named the Louisiana Class AAA coach of the year for both cross country and track in 2004 and led Iowa to two state titles, the first such championships in any sport for the high school.

In USATF junior Olympic competition he had his athletes earn 105 all-America honors as well as set seven national records and win 35 national championships.

He is married to the former Keri Ange, a McNeese distance running record holder and champion and former school athlete of the year, and the couple has two children. Keri is also a member of the McNeese Hall of Fame.