MILTON, Mass. - The Curry College Department of Athletics announced Wednesday morning that men’s cross country will be added as the 16th NCAA Division III varsity sport.

The program, which will compete in the Commonwealth Coast Conference, will begin competition in the fall of 2022.

“We are very pleased to be adding men’s cross country as our 16th varsity athletic program here at Curry,” said President Kenneth K. Quigley, Jr. “The expansion of our athletic programs, which provide unique opportunities for talented and motivated student-athletes, is a priority for our College, and we hope that this will inspire new student-athletes to participate in cross country.”

“The addition of a men’s cross country team at Curry College makes perfect sense at this time," said Director of Athletics Vinnie Eruzione. "They will be a great compliment to our women’s program as both groups will be able to grow and feed off one another. Adding another sport for our student-athletes to compete in within the Commonwealth Coast Conference is also an added plus."

Darlene Gaudet, who has been the head coach of the Curry women’s cross country program since 2018, will serve as head coach of both programs.

"I'm excited to start our first men's cross country team," said Gaudet. "The best part about our cross country team is how the student-athletes support one another and the relationships they build with each other. I love that our program is growing, and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together."

"We are looking forward to supporting Coach Gaudet and her soon-to-be assistant coach as they work to build two solid programs,” said Eruzione.

The team will train at the Blue Hills Reservation, which surrounds Curry’s Milton campus. Recent meet locations for the women’s cross country program, and likely sites for meets in Curry’s inaugural men’s season, include Topsfield’s Bradley Palmer State Park, Westfield’s Stanley Park, and Bristol, Rhode Island’s Colt State Park.

Curry College will become one of nearly 390 NCAA Division III institutions to sponsor varsity men’s cross country, and will be the CCC’s ninth program.

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