SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse University director of athletics Dr. Daryl Gross announced today that head cross country and track & field coach Andrew Roberts has resigned. Roberts has been SU's head coach for the past eight years and has been a member of the Syracuse staff since 1984.
"Andrew has given more than 20 years of his expertise and experience to Syracuse University. We are proud of his accomplishments and wish him well," Gross said.
During the past 21 seasons, Roberts has coached 29 BIG EAST champions and 16 All-America performances in the sprints and hurdles at SU. The Orange had 14 All-America performances during Roberts' tenure as head coach from 1997-2005 and 34 BIG EAST champions, including four from this year's indoor championship at the Carrier Dome. In his eight year tenure, five track & field student-athletes earned CoSIDA District I Academic All-America honors. The men's and women's cross country teams earned six consecutive US Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Awards (1999 through 2004). In 2004, both the men's and women's teams earned US Track & Field Coaches Association All-Academic Team honors. The men's program boasted the fifth-best grade point average in the country.
"Throughout my tenure here my objective was to mirror my vision to the vision of Syracuse University and the athletics program, which is an institution and program of excellence," Roberts said. "Looking at the whole picture – academics and athletics – that is what we achieved. I am proud of what we accomplished."
In 1996 Cory Ward earned the BIG EAST Indoor Outstanding Male Performer award after winning the 55- and 200-meter dashes. That same season, Keri Hinderlie earned All-America honors in the 100-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championship.
In 2000 Adrian Woodley garnered the BIG EAST Outstanding Male Performer Award after winning the outdoor league titles in both the 60-meter hurdles and the 200-meter dash. Roberts also mentored Woodley to All-America performances at both the NCAA Indoor Championship and NCAA Outdoor Championship. Woodley went on to win the 110-meter hurdles at the Canadian Track & Field Championships, qualifying for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.