Navy made a significant fundamental change to the structure of its track and field programs following the retirements of head coaches Steve Cooksey and Carla Criste.
Cooksey announced his departure in June 2017 after leading Navy men’s track and field for 29 years. Criste stepped down in August 2018 following a 27-year tenure as women’s track and field coach to focus on her duties as an assistant athletic director at the academy.
Athletic director Chet Gladchuk knew both retirements were inevitable and had been contemplating the best way forward. He made a bold decision to hire one coach to oversee both the men’s and women’s programs.