Gary Edstrom
Gary Edstrom
  • Email:
    gle113@psu.edu
  • Title:
    Head Cross Country Coach
  • Organization:
    Penn State Scranton
  • City:
    Dunmore
  • State:
    PA
  • ZIP Code:
    18512
  • Country:
    USA
  • Phone:
    570-963-2617
  • Previous College:
    Bloomsburg, Penn State University, California University of Pennsylvania
Bio
Heading the Penn State Scranton's men's and women's cross country team is Mr. Gary Edstrom. Coach Edstrom's running career spans more than  40 years and has covered all distances from the 1/2 mile to the 1/2 marathon. Mr. Edstrom has coached teams in all age groups from youth soccer to military sports programs. In 2007 his women's cross country team captured the PSUAC state title, the first ever for the Worthington Scranton Lady Lions. Since then they have won the title seven additional years (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014) and have qualified to compete in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Championship meet every year since 2008; where they finished in the top five, four times; including two second-place finishes. Under Coach Edstrom, three Lady Lions and one member of the men's team have earned USCAA All American honors and many more have earned a spot on the USCAA National All-Academic XC Team.

 

The men’s teams have earned “At-Large” bids to Nationals by placing 2nd in the conference in five of the last seven years. Many athletes from those teams have earned spots on the All-Academic team. In 2014 the men's team captured the PSUAC Championship, ending a two decade drought.

Coach Edstrom earned an Associate's degree in Letters, Arts and Sciences from Penn State Hazleton, where he also ran on the varsity cross country team. He has also earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Bloomsburg University, a Master’s degree in Adult Education from Penn State, and a Master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from California University of PA. Coach Edstrom is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT) and Fitness Nutrition Specialist (FNS). He has also received specialized training in Cardio-respiratory Training for Sports Performance.