MTF Adds New Assistant Coach

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College Men's Track and field is excited to welcome Anna Willard to its coaching staff. Willard will join as the team's interim assistant coach as the team heads into the championship portion of it's indoor season and eyes a strong outdoor season.

Willard joins the BCTF staff after competing professionally for over a decade, in a career that includes five US National Championships, Olympic & World Championships finals and world rankings across multiple events. Willard competed collegiately at Brown University as an undergrad, where she was an All-American and held 10 school records upon graduation in 2006. As a graduate at the University of Michigan, Willard became the NCAA Champion in the 3000m steeplechase, won multiple Big 10 Championships, and was named Michigan's female athlete of the year for 2006-07. In an illustrious track & field career, Willard would become the only female athlete in the world to have ever run sub-2:00 in the 800M, sub-4:00 in the 1500M, and sub-9:30 in the 3K steeplechase.

Willard transitioned to a career in coaching while also competing professionally. As a volunteer at the University of Michigan, Willard helped guide the Wolverines to a top-3 finish at the Big 10 Championships, and 21^st place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. From 2015 on, Willard built a thriving, private coaching business, with a large and diverse roster of athletes.

"We are thrilled to have Anna join us for the remainder of the 2019 season" said Director of Track & Field, Matt Kerr. "Anna brings a wealth of knowledge as both a coach and accomplished athlete. With a mid-year hire, we needed a dynamic individual who could hit the ground running and keep the momentum of the team's outstanding season. Anna is a perfect fit and we are excited to tap into her energy and enthusiasm, as well as the outstanding breadth of experience she has in our sport."

AT BROWN UNIVERSITY

Cross country and track captain
Second Team All-Ivy at the 2005 Cross Country Heptagonal Meet (12th place finish), First Team All-Ivy at the 2006 Indoor Heptagonal Championships (3rd place in the Mile Run, anchor leg on the winning 4x800m team), First Team All-Ivy at the 2006 Outdoor Heptagonal Championships (1st place Steeplechase in a Heptagonal Record (10:11.51), 2nd place 800m, anchor leg on the winning 4x800m team).
2006 NCAA All-American Indoor DMR (anchor leg on the 8th place finishing team).
2006 NCAA All-American Outdoor Steeplechase (6th place in 10:06.83).
Owner of 10 school records upon graduation: indoor and outdoor distance medley relay, indoor and outdoor 4x800m relays, as well as the outdoor 800m, indoor 1000m, outdoor 1500m, 3000m, 3000m steeplechase and 5000m races.

AT UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

2007 NCAA Steeplechase Champion in a then Collegiate Record of 9:38.08.
2007 Big Ten Track Athlete of the Year after three victories at the 2007 Outdoor Big 10 Championships (steeple, 1500m and 5000m).
2007 Top Female Performer at the Penn Relays for her contribution to NCAA records in the 4x800m and 4x1500m relays.
Michigan's 2006-2007 Female Athlete of the Year.
Inducted into the Michigan Hall of Fame, class of 2018.

AS A PROFESSIONAL

Professional athlete 2007-2017 (Nike '07-15, Oiselle '16-17)
Only female athlete in world history to have run sub-2:00 in the 800m, sub-4:00 in the 1500m, and sub-9:30 in the 3k Steeplechase.
Five-time US national champion: 2008 (steeplechase), 2009 (indoor 1500m), 2010 (indoor 800m, outdoor 1500m, road mile)
World Ranked by T&FN: #2 (800m, 2009), #6 (1500m, 2009), #8 (800m, 2010)
2008 Olympic finalist – 3k Steeplechase (10th place, 9:25.63)
2008 Olympic Trials Champion – 3k Steeplechase (9:27.59 – former American record)
2007 NCAA 3k Steeplechase Champion- University of Michigan (9:38.08 – former NCAA record)

COACHING CAREER

Successful private track & field coach 2015-present
Volunteer assistant coach for the University of Michigan women's cross country and track & field team 2007-2008
Third-place finish at the 2007 Big Ten Cross Country Championships
21st place finish at the 2007 NCAA Championships

Boston College Athletics

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