SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - Lake Superior State University Director of Athletics Dr. Dave Diles has announced that track and field/cross country head coach Rob Gallinger will be departing LSSU, effective Dec. 23. Gallinger, who has been in his role at Lake Superior State since August 2017, will be joining the track and field staff at Wofford College as an assistant track and field coach.
"I'm grateful for Rob's leadership of our cross country and track and field programs, and wish him the very best as he continues his career with this new opportunity," said Diles. "I'm looking forward to building the cross country and track programs and continuing to advance Laker athletics."
"I want to thank Lake Superior State University and the athletic department for the opportunity to start my career, specifically Jen Constantino, Dr. David Paitson and Dr. Dave Diles for their belief in me to guide the Cross Country and Track and Field programs," said Gallinger. "My biggest thank you goes out to all the student-athletes I've had the fortune of working with up to this point. Whether it was for a season or two, or I was able to see them through their whole collegiate career, the athletes that have come through the Lake State program will always be important to me. I appreciate all of their work and commitment to the program; they are amazing people and I hope they all find success in academics, athletics and life."
Under Gallinger's leadership, the cross country and track and field teams saw steady improvement with each passing year. A testament to his coaching, multiple school records were broken with Coach Gallinger at the helm. Most recently, at the 2021 GLIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the women's team finished with 20 points, marking the program's highest total since the 2014 season while the men's team finished with 19.5 points, marking the program's highest total since the 2017 season.
In addition to the improvements of the track and field programs, Gallinger had a major role in the college career of distance runner David Mitter. Gallinger guided Mitter, who became the first Laker to compete at the Cross Country National Championships since 1993, to two NCAA National Championship appearances during his coaching tenure. During the 2020-21 track and field season, Mitter bested the school record in the 5k distance on two occasions and met the provisional qualifying mark in the event.
Gallinger, an alum of Lake Superior State, was a member of the LSSU men's track and field team from 2011-15 and served as a Laker team captain during his senior season in 2015.
A national search will begin for Gallinger's successor.
For more information, visit lssulakers.com
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