WEST HARTFORD – University of Hartford Director of Athletics Mary Ellen Gillespie has announced the hiring of Stacie Wentz as the department's new Head Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track & Field Coach. Wentz comes to Hartford from Assumption College, where she has led the Greyhounds to unprecedented success during the last four years. She will officially join Hawk Nation on Aug. 7.
 
"I'm extremely excited to have Stacie take over the helm of our track & field and cross country programs," Gillespie said. "She understands what makes a well-rounded student-athlete, and how to achieve success in the competitive arena, the classroom and the community. The growth of the program at Assumption under her watch was tremendously impressive, and we look forward to seeing what she can accomplish for the Hawks."
 
In Wentz's time at Assumption, she lifted the cross country program to its first appearance in the NCAA National Championship, in 2017, while the track and field squad broke 75 school records and an athlete earned All-America recognition for the first time in school history.
 
"I'm extremely grateful to Mary Ellen Gillespie for trusting me with the leadership of the Hartford track & field and cross country programs," Wentz said. "During the interview process, the family atmosphere at Hartford stood out to me, as did the potential that the school has in entering a new era of success. The athletics program with the Hawks is on the rise, and I look forward to leading my teams on a similar upward trajectory."
 
During Wentz's tenure with the program, Assumption improved from 23rd in the region to second in women's cross country, while the men's team earned the first NCAA National Championship qualifier in school history as well. On the track, the Greyhounds saw 15 student-athletes post NCAA provisional qualifying marks and three student-athletes qualify for the NCAA national championships, while 40 student-athletes earned USTFCCCA all-region recognition.
 
The 2016-17 season saw Assumption women's cross country team ranked second in the East Region throughout the year, as the squad advanced to the NCAA National Championship for the first time in program history. On the track, both the indoor and outdoor programs posted the top conference finish in school history, while the Greyhounds also earned the first individual All-America honor in program history.
 
Her teams have excelled in the classroom as well, earning the USTFCCA All-Academic Team recognition in each of her four years on the cross country side, while her 2014 women's track & field squad posted the second-highest GPA in the nation.
 
Wentz came to Assumption from Johns Hopkins University, where she served as the assistant coach of the men's and women's cross country and track & field teams from 2009-13. In 2012, she helped coach the women's cross country team to the NCAA Division III National Championship. She coached seven NCAA Division III cross country All-Americans, along with nine NCAA Division III track individual All-Americans and one All-American distance medley relay team.
 
The native of Dallastown, Pa., graduated magna cum laude from Salisbury University (Md.) in 2001, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and a minor in business administration. In addition, she earned her Master of Science degree in sport management from West Virginia University in 2003, graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. As a collegiate runner on the Salisbury cross country and track & field teams, Wentz was twice named a National Cross Country Coaches Association Academic All-American. She also earned a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics. 
 
In addition to her coaching career, Wentz has worked for US Lacrosse as the program manager of the National Teams program, at Louisiana State University as the assistant director of the Shaquille O'Neal CHAMPS/Life Skills Program, and for the NCAA as a governance intern.  She is a former member of the NCAA Division III National SAAC and NCAA Research Committee.