In name only

Trackwoman-turned-coach McGreevy still puts running first

Kim McGreevy has been everything from an All-American to the Blue and White Illustrated Female Athlete of the Year.

Now she has her eyes on one more accomplishment-- to be a successful coach.

McGreevy finished competing for the Lady Lion track team last year, but she still remains an active member of the team as an assistant to coach Teri Jordan.

- Kim McGreevy, women's track assistant coach

"I look at myself as more of a captain than as a coach," McGreevy said. "I am just here to help out and share my advice. I have been through all of this before, so I can help the freshmen make the right decisions."

The transition from athlete to coach was a smooth one for McGreevy and Jordan. Jordan said as a senior captain last year, McGreevy showed the initiative to lead.

"She has all the qualities of being a great head coach someday," Jordan said. "She has a tremendous drive to compete."

McGreevy may have picked up her leadership qualities from the Navy. She was an All-American at the Naval Academy before she transferred to Penn State during her junior year.

At Penn State, McGreevy came into her own. She became a four-time All-American and excelled with the distance medley relay team in 1996.

"We came out of nowhere that year to grab All-American," McGreevy said. "The great thing about it was the fact that we did it together."

One of McGreevy's teammates on that relay team, Erica Bosler, is her current roommate. Bosler is still trying to adjust to the fact that her roommate and former teammate is now her coach.

"I still see her as just one of my teammates and my roommate," Bosler said, "but I still respect her a coach."

Right now coaching is just temporary until McGreevy graduates. She then has to decide what her future will bring.

"I want to continue to coach here," McGreevy said, "but I am still thinking about moving on and training."

In addition to coaching, McGreevy runs the mile for her sponsor, the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) in New York City. The NYAC pays for all her travel and equipment expenses.

Two weeks ago, McGreevy competed in the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden and finished fourth. Two of the athletes who finished ahead of her were Olympians Regina Jacobs and Suzy Hamilton. Jacobs was the second best in the world a year ago.

Running for the NYAC is a great boost to her career, but she has one problem with it -- their colors are red and white.

"I was so used to wearing blue and white," McGreevy said. "Now I am surprised every time that I look down and see red in my uniform."

Whether she is wearing red, white or blue, McGreevy hopes to remain active in the sports that she loves.