Cross Country | 9/16/2024 9:36:00 PM

DOVER, Del. - Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson announced the promotion of Gwen Harris as acting Head Coach of the Men's and Women's Cross Country on September 19, 2024. 
 

Gwen Harris is well-versed in the competitive culture of Delaware State Exhibit, and her experiences go beyond being an Assistant Coach and liaison for Cross Country at Delaware State. Harris graduated from Delaware State in 1974 and later coached at Caesar Rodney High School in Delaware. During her six years there, she led the program to four state championships and three conference titles. Harris then served as the Head Women's Track and Field Coach at James Madison University for 17 years before becoming the Women's Head Coach for Track & Field at the University of Pennsylvania.
 

Harris has been a member of various committees and has received Level I (1989) and Level II (1993) certificates from the USA Track and Field Coaching Education School. She has also been inducted into the Delaware African-American Hall of Fame (2002) and the Delaware State University Athletics Hall of Fame (2010). Harris continues to serve as the Director of Delaware State University's summer All-Sports Camp.
 

Harris's success as a coach continued at her Alma Mater, where she coached top-ranked athletes and teams in various track and field events. Her dedication to her athletes, such as Tayshaun Chisholm, who holds a 60m hurdle record at Boston University Faciltiy, has led to numerous championships and records being broken. In the 300m Steeplechase, she coached Del State Men's #1 and #2 ranked teams to a MEAC Title with Albert Norman in 2021. Harris has also coached the #3 and #4 best 800m times in school history.
 

Also, coached the men's school record holder in the 3k,5k, 8k, and 10k best in 8k (25:33.3). She also coached 10 All-MEAC top performers in Women's Cross Country.
 

"Reflecting on my time here at Delaware State, graduating and becoming a Hall of Famer is tremendous," Harris emphasized. She is proud to have played a role in the advancement of women's sports at the university.
 

Delaware State Athletics is pleased with the growth that Coach Harris has brought to the program and is excited for her to resume her duties as the next Men's and Women's actin Head Cross Country Coach.