Head Cross Country Coach

Gary Edstrom
Gary Edstrom
  • Email:
    gle113@psu.edu
  • Title:
    Head Cross Country Coach
  • Organization:
    Penn State Worthington Scranton
  • City:
    Dunmore
  • State:
    PA
  • ZIP Code:
    18512
  • Country:
    USA
  • Phone:
    570-963-2617
  • Previous College:
    Bloomsburg, Penn State University
Bio

Heading the Penn State Scranton men’s and women’s cross country teams is Gary Edstrom. Coach Gary’s running career spans more than 40 years and has covered all distances from the ½ mile to the ½ 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 championship, for the first time in program history. Since then they have won the title seven straight years (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 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 members of the women’s team and one member of the men’s team have earned USCAA All-American honors and many more have earned spots on the USCAA National All-Academic team.

The men’s teams have earned “At-Large” bids to nationals by placing second in the conference in five of the last seven years. In 2014 the men’s team captured the PSUAC Championship for the first time in two decades.
 
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 Pennsylvania. 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.