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An assistant track and cross country coach at Penn State for the past eight years, John Gondak was put in charge of the programs on an interim basis in June after Beth Alford-Sullivan left for the Uni- versity of Tennessee. During his tenure with the Nittany Lions, Gondak has focused on the cross country and distance squads. His runners have included 19 first-team USTFCCCA All-Ameri- cans, 20 Big Ten champi- ons, four Big Ten Freshman of the Year honorees and three sub-4-minute milers. Twenty school records have been set under his watch, and there've been five Penn Relays victories. In accepting the position, the Doylestown, Pa., native thanked Alford- Sullivan for her work in building Penn State into a Big Ten power. "Due to her guidance, the dedication of the assistant coaches and all the hard work and effort by the student-athletes, this program is in a great spot," he said. "We have had historic results the last few years, including Big Ten champi- onships, top-10 team finishes at the NCAA Track Championships, Penn Re- lays championships and an NCAA Re- gional Cross Country championship – all results we want to continue striving for." A Syracuse graduate – he captained the Orange cross country team as a senior – Gondak has been a big part of Penn State's recent distance-running successes, in- cluding a Big Ten title by the women's squad in 2009 and an NCAA Mid-Atlantic regional crown in 2012. He assisted in NCAA-qualifying efforts by the women's squad in 2009, '10, '11, '12 and '13 and by the men's team in 2008, and '10. The Nit- tany Lion women's squad placed 13th at the 2011 NCAA Cross Country Champi- onships – the team's highest finish in nearly two decades. In fact, the Nittany Lion women have enjoyed five consecutive NCAA-qualifying performances in cross country, finishing in the top 15 in three of those years. Alford-Sullivan announced in June that she was leaving to become director of track and cross country at Tennessee. She had been at Penn State since 1999, first as coach of the women's track and cross country teams and later as director of the combined men's and women's programs. Under her leadership, the Nittany Lions won nine Big Ten team titles and had 158 All-Americans and four individual NCAA champs. This year alone, Alford-Sullivan's program won two league championships, with the women's track and field team finishing first at both the indoor and out- door Big Ten meets. Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart said he was "ecstatic" to welcome Al- ford-Sullivan to Knoxville. Her contract with the Volunteers extends through 2018 and will reportedly pay her $245,000 an- nually. "Beth brings with her a very impressive skill set," Hart said, "as well as a record of consistent success in all phases of lead- ership in directing a multifaceted, com- bined men's and women's track and field and cross country program." ■ GONDAK V A R S I T Y V I E W S Veteran assistant tapped to lead track programs Gondak named interim coach after Alford-Sullivan's exit Wyatt joins PSU's coaching staff Penn State filled out its coaching staff in June with the addition of Jo- celyn Wyatt, a former assistant at Georgia State. Head coach Coquese Washington called Wyatt "one of the rising stars in our profession." "Her passion for the game, her en- thusiasm for serving and her knowl- edge of the game are all top-notch," Washington said. "In addition, she is a strong teacher." Wyatt, who fills a vacancy that opened up when Fred Chmiel left for Minnesota, spent the past four sea- sons with the Pan- thers. Among the players she coached at Georgia State was Kendra Long, a third-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection who broke the school records for most 3-pointers in a sea- son and a career. Prior to her tenure at Georgia State, Wyatt spent two seasons as an assistant coach at East Carolina, where she helped the Pirates to back-to-back top-100 recruiting classes. In her first season at ECU, she coached three All-Conference selections, one All-Defensive team member and an All-Freshman choice. She also helped to sign the nation's 55th-ranked point guard to the 2010 recruiting class. A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., Wy- att began her collegiate playing career at Division II Kennesaw State before transferring to Appalachian State. PSU TO PLAY IN WNIT Penn State will open the 2014-15 season by hosting Towson in the first round of the Preseason WNIT. The teams will meet at noon on Nov. 14 for a "School Day" special. The Lady Li- ons will be working with local school districts to provide an educational experience for students in atten- dance. ■ WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

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