For the first
half of my coaching career at Marist, it was pretty much a given that I was “just
the men’s coach.” The lines were clearly drawn: Pete coaches the guys and Phil
coaches the women. Oh, we traveled together to meets and to practices and we
were very much together as one big happy (and oftentimes dysfunctional) family.
But the structure was set, in terms of recruiting and coaching, by that model.
When Phil retired in 2008, the structure remained similar but with a slight
shift. I was given a fancy new title – Director of Track/Cross Country – with the
idea that I would now be more directly involved in all aspects of the program.
To be sure, Chuck Williams has been and remains the leader and the face of the
women’s distance program since Phil’s retirement – the results speak for
themselves! But that subtle pivot in title and responsibilities – along with
being elevated to full-time status -- has gotten me more directly involved in
the women’s program. It’s a blessing every darn day. No one individual
represents that pivot point more than Kelley (Gould) Posch. Talk about blessings
…
Yesterday
(Butti), we had the “science nerd.” Today, we have the “track/math nerd.” The
common thread is a strong and equal emphasis on both parts of the
student-athlete equation. As I was going through Kell’s answers (and awesome
photos) here, I realized I forgot to have her talk about her post-collegiate
running, of which she’s done great things too. But alas, there are plenty of
words here. As with every one of these Pandemic Papers series interviews, I
find myself smiling and nodding at my laptop screen, as I remain cornered in
this converted closet-office in my house, at the great times and the great
memories. Thank you, Kell, for taking the time out of your “distance teaching”
to answer these questions so well. As I knew you would.
It's almost
like you were BORN to come to Marist, but please describe the recruiting
process. Did you consider any other schools? How did you choose Marist over
other schools? And yes, you forever remain the answer to the (not so trivial,
to me) trivia question of being the first female recruit that I met with after
longtime women’s coach Phil Kelly retired. Do you remember our initial meeting?
Both of my parents
have degrees from Marist College. I have two degrees from Marist College. My
husband (fellow Forever Fox Billy Posch) has two degrees from Marist College.
My younger sister (fellow Forever Fox Annie Gould) has two degrees from Marist
College. Her boyfriend (fellow Forever Fox Ken Walshak) has two degrees from
Marist. I still have a Marist sweatshirt in a child's size that I wore at my
parents' college reunion (20th, possibly?) where I have a vague memory of
sitting on a concrete planter outside of the McCann Center playing with my
parents' friends' kids. As I grew up, we got mail from Marist. I heard many
stories of the old campus buildings that don't exist anymore - and some that
do! My parents' friends would come for holiday parties and reminisce about
the bar (The Pub!) in the bottom of Champagnat (where I would one day do my
laundry); their infamous college president DJM, whose first year was their
freshman year, visiting their house when they won the "River House"
award during their senior week; and the old railroad bridge (now the Walkway)
on which my dad "definitely didn't" spray paint their fake fraternity
symbols (Phi Tappa Kegga) with his friends (the symbols stayed visible until
about five years ago and I would see them on every run over the walkway and on
the van rides to the Vassar track).
As I was preparing to
start the college process I was emphatic when I said, "I do not want
to go to Marist." (This sounds familiar, doesn’t it Shea?)
It was the summer
going into senior year of high school when my dad visited the Marist athletics
website looking at the Cross Country/Track and Field program. He cornered
me on the porch on summer vacation and said I should check it out. It might be
a good fit. I shrugged and said fine, I'll think about it.
Ironically, my Mom (Hi
Mom, I know you're reading this -- she is a diehard blog fan..."Did you
see Pete's blog today?") emailed Coach Phil Kelly the year before (unbeknownst
to me) to try to start some communication but, being the first-timers that we
were, we didn't know the NCAA rules that prevented Phil from having contact
with me. In August, my mom and I planned to go on a campus tour and reached out
to Pete. The first runhed246@hotmail.com email popped to our inbox,
welcoming us to meet with him.
We did the 45-minute
commute to Poughkeepsie, chugging down the traffic lights of Route 9. It was
your typical picture-perfect Marist day -- light Hudson River breeze, green
grass with no dandelion in sight, sun blasting like a halo off the
Rotunda. We went to McCann to meet with Pete, who we called "Coach
Colaizzo" for probably the first and last time. We met in whatever space
became the "fishbowl" and the most memorable moment I have was my Mom
bringing up drinking and Pete saying, "This is a responsible team. They
work hard and don't do a whole lot of that stuff." That was the only lie
(the drinking, not the hard work) Pete has ever told me. Although I'm sure he
understood it to be the truth. I don't remember much else from that meeting
except that Pete made the team sound like a true family and he made me feel
like they wanted me to be a part of it. I was definitely enchanted by that
acceptance. To this day, I'm grateful that it turned out to be true and the
connection of this team exceeds anything I could have ever expected or wished
for.
In high school (...and
college...and now) I was a super track nerd. I won a DyeStat New Year’s Eve
contest for naming 50 athletes pictured in a collage that they made. This was
before phones and the Internet were able to do these kinds of things with
ease. For those keeping score, I was #Flawless and got them all and earned
an oversized t-shirt to prove it. When I looked at the Marist rosters, I saw
some familiar names. Colleen Ryan, a fellow Section 1 runner who grew up just a
few towns over from me. Matt Flint, a mainstay on the NYS DyeStat threads. Adam
Vess, a high school national champion and Green Mountain Running Camp
counselor. I got to go on a recruiting trip with Jackie Gamboli, who was
dominating Section 1 at the time and Katie Messina, who was fresh off a trip to
NXN with her team. I was enamored by the opportunity to be on their team.
After meeting with
Pete, we took a tour (fun fact - I would later go on to give those) and when
the tour ended I turned to my mom and said, "I'm going here."
I applied early
decision. I was admitted on December 15, 2008.
I was accepted to
Geneseo, who reached out to me in the Spring after denying me any attention in
the summer/fall. I got into Ithaca, but never reached out to the coach. I got a
letter from Binghamton that my application was withdrawn because I never finished
it. Marist was it and I was eager to start my career as a Red Fox.
Talk about
your high school running career at Carmel and your strong connection to the
program. When did you start running and how did your high school career prepare
you for your college career?
I joined the modified
cross country team in 8th grade because my friend asked me to and because the
coach was our elementary gym teacher who was a joy to be around. He gave us
candy after races; charms in the shape of "feet" for our necklace after
accomplishing goals in practice and at meets; and at the end of the season he
let us do his infamous obstacle course in the old gym. I had all the incentive
a middle-schooler needed to join. I have always been goal-oriented and each
week presented another opportunity to get better. I liked that. I also was
doing pretty well - by the end of the season I was in the "top 5."
Back then, the Northern County meet in Section 1 had a modified race and the
high school coaches invited the top 7 to come run. I ran my first race at
Bowdoin where I lost a contact lens and ran into a tree, but still managed to
have a great experience. I was invited to join the varsity winter track team. I
told them I had to think about it because I was planning on trying out for
basketball. I sucked at basketball. Thankfully, I spared myself the
embarrassment and chose to forgo the tryouts. From then on it was never a
question. I was a runner.
I was fortunate to be
on the team with some stellar runners who earned scholarships to Stanford,
Syracuse, Haverford, Manhattan, NYU and more. I watched my teammates win
section and state titles. I clutched the railing at the Armory, cheering while
my teammates won NSIC in the 4x800, running 8:59. I watched my teammate place
3rd at Millrose Games from the luxury of a box seat at MSG. I was surrounded by
talent and I wanted to be just like them. I spent countless runs in my early
seasons trying to just hang on to be able to hear the conversation and feel
like I was a part of the group. I ran my heart out in workouts trying to match
their effort. The experience taught me that success comes from relentless hard
work. I took that lesson with me throughout my college career and beyond.
What are some
of your fondest memories of your years as a student-athlete at Marist?
There are too many to
count. I will pick two.
Second, less
grandiose, would be meals at the round table in the old cafeteria. Stuffing too
many people to a table. Laughing at people who sat in "the zoo" --
the small dining spaces glassed-in around the useless courtyard (although I
remember exactly one time it was used for a sushi night). Seeing how many
peanut butter and jellies I could eat in one week (25. #Freshman15) Cramming
before a night class test. Sitting with Web, Zak and Jackie (Katie, were you
there??) trying to be "victors" in closing the cafeteria by being the
last ones to get kicked out. When Curtis Jensen took my phone as a freshman and
texted my dad that I was pregnant (Still not sure why my dad liked you so much,
Curtis). The simple time with teammates was invaluable. Even if it caused you
to have a long, awkward conversation with your father afterwards.
You took a
very rigorous load of academics while at Marist. Talk about that, how you were
able to balance academics and athletics, and how that prepared you for your
career as a teacher.
I graduated Magna Cum
Laude with a B.A. in Mathematics, my Secondary Education certification, a minor
in psychology and as a graduate of the honors college. But if you rewind to
freshman year, you would see me in mandatory athletic study hall with a
"W" next to my fall transcript in Calculus I (because I dropped it).
I cared deeply about my grades, but I struggled at first with rising to the
quality of work that was expected of me. I struggled to learn math when I was
on my own, except for twice a week for 75 minutes when I was scribbling to copy
whatever my professor put on the board. I was on the younger end when I started
college, turning 18 in November of that year. While I was relatively mature
17-year-old, I still had a lot to learn about being independent and educating
myself at the next level.
I was fortunate to
have a much better experience in Calculus I the spring. Funny moment
from that class: I was taking the class at 8am with Katie and one day woke up
to a text from her that said she didn't understand the homework and wasn't
going to class. I copied the three problems on a sheet of paper, knocked on her
door in Marian and dragged her to class. I caught up by taking
Calculus II over the summer going into sophomore year (where I stayed at Marist
and worked in the McCann Center at the entrance desk and as a tour guide) and
by sophomore year I was started to flourish in the classroom. My junior year I
was inducted into the math honor society, Mu Alpha Theta. My senior year I took
a chance and became president. It required a fancy speech at the induction
ceremony in the Boathouse and it was nerve-wracking, but I'm glad I did it. To
this day, I still attend their induction ceremonies and keep in touch with the
math department.
My education classes
were pretty generic until junior year where I took Methods for Teaching
Mathematics. I was incredibly fortunate to take the class with Dr. McAdam. He introduced
me to a whole world of math education that I didn't even know existed. He
taught through hands-on activities. He made us constantly self-reflect - a
skill that I use each and every day to be a better educator. For example,
we would critique our language in order to see the importance of how we
delivered content and how it served our students' learning. He made us see the
connections between different models and how they could help all students an
equitable opportunity to learn math. It was totally different than my own
experiences in learning math and I couldn't wait to bring it to my own
classroom.
The balance between
school work and running was challenged during student teaching. There were
several of us on the team that were student teaching that semester and we were
delusional when we thought it would be like high school and college -
going to practice then doing our "homework" to prepare for the next
day of teaching. We were all on different schedules and that caused us to be
running on different schedules too. I was on my own for training and I learned
a lot about myself that semester. I learned how much my heart wanted it
(running, teaching, everything) when my body was pushed to the edge of
exhaustion. I learned that I need the outlet of solitude that running continues
to give me after a high-energy day with students. I learned to stop letting my
head win and I gave myself the grace to just put in the hard work and not put
pressure on the performance. Ironically enough, it translated into my best two
seasons of training and racing.
Talk about
your career so far as a teacher, where you started, where you are now and how
things are going? How has "distance learning" and "distance
teaching" have impacted your day-to-day existence?
When I graduated, I
planned on spending a fifth year to help coach and run. That didn't work out
because I was planning on living with athletes (against NCAA Rules) and it was
for the better. I stayed in town and I got a leave replacement at the local
middle school. My first classroom was located directly next to Pete's
daughter's locker. Like, seriously, her locker was the first one. How does that
even happen? I moved into a probationary position for 8th grade math and earned
tenure. I cherish my experiences there, but I made the choice to take a job
that was closer to where I grew up. This is my 7th year teaching and I am
now at a school in Putnam County, NY as a 9th grade Algebra teacher. I feel
like I am exactly where I was meant to be.
My last day of
in-class instruction was Friday the 13th (of March). We spent the day eating
pizza in early celebration of Pi Day (3/14) while we studied quadratics and we
were told at 2:00 that school would be closed for "Monday and
Tuesday" to deep clean the classrooms. We never went back. My school was
incredibly well prepared for distance learning. For the last few years all of
our students and teachers have had Chromebooks and we use the Google Apps for
Education and other digital tools to enhance instruction. Nevertheless, it
hasn't been an easy experience. I thrive off of my students' energy. My
instruction is focused on collaborative experiences. My students are always up
and moving. Now my students are behind a screen that I can't even see. I am
fortunate to be technologically-inclined and I am doing the best I can to keep
the rigor high and the lessons engaging. But this whole experience is proving
that human connection is integral to a successful education. And the lack of it
is punching a damn hole in my heart. I am not required to do any "live
online teaching" but I hold office hours on Google Meet every day for
students to drop in and get extra help. So many have dropped in just to say
hello and see how I am doing. I appreciate it more than they know.
You are also
an awesome coach and we are extremely proud of that! What are some of your
coaching career highlights and how has the pandemic affected that aspect of
your career?
I am now at a point
where my former students and athletes are graduating and going on to college.
I'm really proud to watch them move forward and that is probably the highlight
of my career so far. I was incredibly excited for this coming track season. We
have 140+ athletes signed up for the team. We have a coaching staff of four
positions, which was an increase from last year. We had a lot of gritty,
multi-sport athletes sign up for the first time. There was so much potential
for growth of our program this season. But it isn't going anywhere. I am so
proud of how my team is handling this pandemic and staying motivated. Our
Twitter account, @pac_and_field showcases their resiliency.
How are you
and Bill and your family handing the Coronvirus pandemic? What are your
thoughts on it and look into a crystal ball and let us know what you think the
future holds for us all?
In November, Bill and
I sold our townhouse and we are staying with my parents while we look for our
next home. It's definitely Groundhog Day, as it is for most of the world right
now. But we are all trying to look at it positively. "We aren't stuck at
home. We are SAFE at home." We have several educators in the house and
during the day at any point you will see someone on a video call, someone on
the treadmill (or coming in from a run outside) and someone at the kitchen
table prepping for the next day. We have been passing the time with card
games, playing "Cuomo Bingo" during the daily reports (looking for
common occurrences such as drawing out the syllables in
"ven-til-a-tors", mentioning "New York Tough", roasting his
brother...), watching Schitt's Creek and making my mom watch Game of Thrones. We
routinely tune into Emma Coburn's Instagram lives at night and we actually got
to join her one night for a game of "Family Flip Cup." I'm glad she
enjoyed our company because we are certifiable fan girls and we were not afraid
to show it.
I pray every day for
the first responders, for those who are sick and for the families that are
helplessly watching their loved ones battle this virus. The future holds a lot
of change. My classroom will look different for a while. When can I give my
students/athletes fist bumps again? Will my seniors get the milestone moments
they deserve? Will I be able to hug my grandmother again? When the anxiety of
these thoughts start to rise, I try my best to steer towards my faith and try
to focus on the positive.
Our seniors
lost their final season of eligibility and their final few months of college.
What message would you like to convey to them, as well as to the high school
seniors that you know?
My heart breaks for
you all. It is not fair. It will never be fair. But there will be happy times
again. There is so much left for you to do in this world. Focus on moving
forward. You have every right to mourn the moments you lost. Give yourself that
time, then focus on what you can control. Make the choice to do great things in
this world. There is so much left for you to achieve and experience! Especially
in running. The alumni jerseys are pretty sweet and you'll still hear a
"GO MARIST RED FOXES!" shout out at every race. Once a red fox,
always a red fox!
What message
of hope can you convey for our returning student-athletes at Marist, as well as
any prospective student-athletes to Marist?
Work hard and take
nothing for granted. One day it'll all be done and you won't want to look back
with regret. Leave it all out there.
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