Fredonia State has turned to one of SUNYAC sister schools to find its new head cross country coach, and stayed in-house to fill a second coaching position.
Jeffrey Beck, a three-time All American distance runner at SUNY Geneseo, has accepted an interim position to head up the Blue Devil men's and women's cross country programs. He will also serve as assistant track and field coach, Fredonia State assistant director of athletics Joe Baudo said.
Baudo also announced Elizabeth Aldrich, an assistant track and field coach for the past two seasons, will serve as interim director of track and field. A Fredonia native and graduate of the University of Alabama, Aldrich will be assisted by Paul Csont, as well as Beck and pole vault coach Tom Wilson.
Beck is familiar with the SUNYAC. A resident of Fairport, he ran at SUNY Oswego before transferring to SUNY Geneseo. While running for the Blue Knights, Beck was a team captain and earned NCAA Division III All-American honors in 2003 and 2004. He also attained All-American status in track and field in 2005, his senior season at Geneseo.
Beck stayed on at Geneseo the following fall as an assistant to head cross country coach Mike Woods. Their 2005 women's team won the NCAA Division III championship, led by three All Americans. Beck continued on as an assistant coach with the Geneseo track and field team during the spring 2006 semester. He holds a bachelor of science degree in elementary education.
Since leaving Geneseo, Beck has worked as a personal coach and as an assistant manager at Medved Running and Walking Outfitters. He has also made the U.S.A. Snowshoe team twice and has twice been an alternate on the U.S.A. Mountain Running team. He is a member of the SUNYAC Cross Country Hall of Fame as well the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Section V Cross Country Hall of Fame.
