GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart and William Smith Colleges Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation
Deb Steward announced that
Tyler Wilkie will serve as head coach for the William Smith Cross Country team. He succeeds Evan Abelson, who led the program for three seasons before resigning to pursue professional opportunities in the Boston area.
"Tyler has been a tremendous asset to Hobart and William Smith Athletics since his arrival," Steward said. "He has earned the respect of our staff in his administrative role and our Heron cross country runners have advocated for him to lead the team. His dedication and commitment to our student-athletes will help build on the program's past success."
Wilkie spent last season as a volunteer assistant coach with the Herons' cross country team. William Smith won the Alfred Invitational, posting a perfect score with the first seven runners across the finish line. Additionally, the Herons were second at the SUNY Poly Short Course Invitational, the Cross Country Only Conference Championship and the Hamilton Short Course Tuneup. William Smith finished seventh at the Liberty League Championship. Wilkie helped mentor six Liberty League All-Academic selections.
"I'm extremely excited for the opportunity to lead the William Smith Cross Country program," Wilkie said. "I am thankful to Coach Abelson for bringing me on last year. I learned a lot from him and I'm looking forward to building upon our successes."
Wilkie has been a part of the HWS athletics staff since 2017. For the past two years, he has served as Hobart and William Smith's NCAA compliance coordinator and event manager. Wilkie oversees NCAA rules compliance for all of Hobart and William Smith's Division III teams. He educates student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni, alumnae and boosters on NCAA regulations. He also coordinates all practice and home and away contest scheduling for the Colleges' teams.
In 2017-18, Wilkie was the director of operations for Hobart basketball, helping the Statesmen to a 21-5 overall record and a Liberty League regular season championship. Wilkie and the rest of the team's coaches were voted the 2017-18 Liberty League Men's Basketball Coaching Staff of the Year.
Wilkie graduated from St. John Fisher College with a bachelor's degree in sports management. He earned a master's degree in sports administration from Canisius College. As an undergraduate, Wilkie gained a wealth of knowledge and experience through internships in the athletic departments at Hobart, St. John Fisher and Monroe Community College.
At St. John Fisher, Wilkie competed in cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field. He was a captain for both the indoor and outdoor track & field teams as a senior. He was a member of three relays that broke school records.
William Smith graduated three members of the 2019 cross country team, but will welcome back 12 runners, including its top five finishers at the NCAA Regional Championship.