GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman's Rita Gary has been promoted to head coach of the Paladin women's cross country track and field teams, as announced today by Robert Gary, who has assumed the new title of Director of Furman Cross Country/Track & Field and will remain head coach of the Paladin men's programs.

"We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Rita Gary as the head coach of Furman women's cross country and track and field," stated Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Jason Donnelly.  "Coach Gary is one of the most successful coaches in the nation and has demonstrated remarkable growth and leadership over the past several years.  She has consistently developed elite student athletes along with championship teams and has set a standard of excellence for the program."

"I want to express how grateful I am to be recognized in a head coaching capacity," said Rita Gary.  "I am grateful that athletic director Jason Donnelly, senior woman administrator Erin Mayes, and President Elizabeth Davis have allowed me the opportunity to continue to grow at Furman.

"I am very proud of what the women's program has accomplished in the past 11 years — multiple top-10 NCAA finishes, the longest active conference winning streak in the NCAA,  excellence in the classroom and community — and I have so much belief in our future opportunities," continued Gary.  "I have come to realize just how important it is for women working in the same role as mine - as a head coach - to be credited for the accomplishments of our leadership.  It's impactful on many levels, and, going forward, this will be the case at Furman."

A native of Saline, Mich., Gary is in her 13th season at Furman.  The 2018 USTFCCCA Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year, she served as the Team USA women's coach for the 2020 Pan Am Cross Country Championship and as the Team USA U20 women's coach for the 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships.  Gary has coached 18 teams to a top-35 finish at the NCAA Championships, highlighted by seven top-15 team finishes.  She has also coached teams to three region championships and 22 conference titles.  

During her career, Gary has coached 51 NCAA All-Americans, including 15 top-10 finishers, 42 Academic All-Americans, five team USATF Championship Qualifiers, and five Team USA Members.  Her athletes have claimed 83 NCAA all-region awards, while her teams have won 19 USTFCCCA All-Academic Awards, the Heller Commitment to Community Award, and the Furman University Golden Paladin Award in both 2017 and 2018.

Under Gary's direction, Furman won the SoCon women's cross country title for the 11th-consecutive season in 2023.  The Paladins, who own the longest active conference winning streak in the nation on the women's side, finished second at the Southeast Region Championship, tying the highest regional finish in the history of the Furman women's program, and placed five women on the all-region team.  Furman went on to register a top-25 finish at the 2023 NCAA Championships, placing 24th, and ranked as high as 13th nationally.

Several of Gary's athletes have gone on to run professionally, including Furman Hall of Fame member Allie Buchalski '18, the most decorated athlete in the history of the Furman cross country/track and field program.  Buchalski claimed her seventh All-American honor after finishing as runner-up in the 5,000m at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships, the highest finish by any Furman track and field athlete at the national championship meet.  She went on to sign a professional contract with Brooks Beasts and placed sixth in the 5,000m at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Gabbi Jennings '21 competes professionally for Adidas/Team Boss and finished fourth in the 3,000m Steeplechase at the 2024 Olympic trials.  She recorded a six-second personal best of 9:12.08 in the finals, marking the seventh-best women's Steeplechase time in U.S. history.  Jennings led all competitors with a time of 9:23.88 in the qualifying round.  A three-time All-American in the Steeplechase at Furman, she placed seventh at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships to finish out her Paladin career.

"I believe this title is a formality of sorts, as Rita has served in this capacity since we arrived here," said Robert Gary.  "She is obviously more than deserving of this title, and I am excited to be even clearer to alumni, donors, our student-athletes and, of course, recruits about how special of a job she does."

The Garys are parents of a son, Percy.