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August 17, 2017
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After a more than two-month search, the Nicholls track and cross country teams have their new leader for the future.
Colonels Athletic Director Matt Roan announced last Tuesday that Stefanie Slekis has agreed to a deal which will make her the head of both programs, pending routine approval from the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.
Roan said he’s excited to bring Slekis on board.
She marks the first coaching hire the new Colonels AD has had to make in his now 10-months at the helm.
Slekis will replace outgoing coach Heather Van Norman, who resigned from the program in early June after – ending a more than five-year run.
“We are proud to announce Stefanie Slekis as the new Nicholls cross country and track and field coach,” Roan said. “Stefanie has developed successful individuals and teams at every stop in her career and she has an unwavering commitment to leading our student-athletes academically, athletically and socially.”
Slekis comes to Thibodaux with experience as a head coach.
She spent the last four seasons serving as the head men’s and women’s cross country coach at North Texas. While there, she was also an assistant track and field coach for the Mean Green.
In her previous position, Slekis enjoyed success.
North Texas’s men’s cross country team were the Conference USA runners-up in 2013 and the league champions in 2014. During that season, Slekis was named Conference USA Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year.
On the women’s side, she also had success, leading the Mean Green to top-three finishes in the conference in her first two seasons with the team.
She said she plans to work feverishly to build the Colonels into a program that enjoys the same type of success.
Nicholls track and field program struggled mightily under Van Norman, routinely sitting near the bottom of the conference standings – something Slekis said she intends to fix in her tenure.
“I am excited to get to work building a championship tradition for the men’s and women’s cross country and women’s track and field programs that Nicholls students, alumni and supporters can be proud to have representing them in the Southland Conference and NCAA,” Slekis said.
On the track and field side, Slekis also has a successful pedigree to fall back on while rebuilding the Colonels.
She was an integral piece of North Texas’s program, which has enjoyed a successful ride in the Conference USA.
The Mean Green’s indoor track program produced the 2015 men’s 3,000-meter and women’s mile champions in Troy Taylor and Susie Kemper, respectively.
Taylor also qualified for the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships as one of five men to earn NCAA South Central Cross Country All-Region honors during Slekis’ four-year run with the team.
Three women also earned All-Region in that time.
Slekis saw 10 distance running student-athletes set school records during her time at North Texas and five individuals qualified for the NCAA West Outdoor Track and Field Preliminary Rounds.
As a runner herself, Slekis was also a decorated and skilled athlete.
At Syracuse University, Slekis earned All-Big East honors twice for the school’s indoor track and field team, finishing fourth in the 3000-meter outdoor steeplechase and eighth in the 3,000-meter indoor at the Big East Championships in 2010.
She also was a 2010 NCAA East Preliminary qualifier in both the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 10,000-meter run.
“I am honored to join the Nicholls family and I want to thank Matt Roan and President Dr. Bruce Murphy for this opportunity,” Slekis said. “During my visit to Thibodaux, I continued to be impressed by Matt’s vision for the athletic department and the resources available to our student-athletes. President Murphy’s support of our student-athletes makes Nicholls an ideal place to coach as I want to guide our student-athletes to achieve their best academically, athletically and professionally.”
“She has ties that span the country – even globally,” Roan added. “That will support our recruiting efforts and she understands exactly what it takes to win. We are excited to place Stefanie in charge and know that she will do great things for the Colonels.”
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