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Head Coach
Ed Fry
E-mail Coach
Fry
Ed Fry is synonymous
with cross country and track and field at IUP.
 This
is Fry’s 43rd year coaching the men at IUP, his 30th
with women’s track and field and 29th with women’s cross
country. He helped initiate the women’s cross country and track and
field programs at the university.
Both programs have
flourished under Fry’s guidance. The cross country program is one of
the best in the country, with IUP runners often found on the
end-of-the-year All-America lists. When their college careers are
over, many continue to run. IUP graduates are often among the top
finishers in marathons and other distance events around the country.
The same things can
be said for the track and field program. IUP athletes annually compete
for honors on the conference, regional and national levels.
Fry has been named the PSAC Coach
of the Year three times in the past seven years, most recently in 2005
when he led the IUP women to a 10th place finish at the NCAA Division II
cross country national meet, and four times overall. He was also
the PSAC Coach of the Year in 1990, 2001 and 2002.
In the past seven
years, IUP has boasted three of the top women’s cross country runners in
the nation. Sara Raschiatore was a two-time PSAC Athlete of the Year and All-American, placing as high as
fourth in 2001.
Mindy Sawtelle
placed
second at nationals in 2003, the highest ever finish by a woman from the East
Region. She was a three-time All-American and was twice selected
the PSAC Athlete of the Year.
In 2006, Nicole Blaesser won
the East Region title and was seventh at the NCAA championships.
Fry’s influence can
be found in the number of cross country and track and field athletes who
have been inducted into the IUP Athletic Hall of Fame since its
inception in 1996. Included in that illustrious group are Don Slusser,
Tammy Donnelly, Elisa Benzoni, Peggy Ruffennach, Kim Schneider, John
Elliott, Ed Phipps, Barry Warren, Dave Maudie and Bob Babiak.
An outstanding
runner himself, Fry finished with a personal best placement of 17th
in the New York Marathon. He set an American age group record in the
10-mile run, outperforming competitors from 33 countries to win the
Submasters Olympic 10,000 meter race in Toronto in 1975.
Originally from
McKeesport, Fry is a graduate of DePaul University. He teaches piano,
introduction to music, music theory and music theory skills in the IUP
Department of Music.
Fry and his wife,
Betsy, have two sons, Christopher and Douglas.
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