Ellen O'Neil enters her 20th year as the distance coach of Smith's indoor and outdoor track and field teams in 2023 and also serves as the head cross country coach.
Education
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B.A., Dartmouth College (1987)
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M.S.,Teachers Degree, University of New Hampshire
Coaching Experience
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Head Coach, Smith College (2004-present)
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Head Coach, Cross-Country, Dartmouth College (1992-2003)
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Assistant Coach, Track and Field, Dartmouth College (1993-2004)
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US Team, World Cross-Country Championships Coach (1999)
At Smith
O'Neil's 2021 team enjoyed tremendous success as the Pioneers were selected as an at-large team to the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship, making their first appearance in 30 years. Smith's third place finish at the 2021 NEWMAC Championship was its best result since 2012. The Pioneers went on to place fourth at the 2021 NCAA Regionals and 29th at nationals. O
O’Neil has coached three individuals to Seven Sisters Individual Champion honors; Nora Youngs (2005, 2008), Anna Cressotti (2007) and Katherine Stephens (2016) and Pria Parker was named the 2021 NEWMAC Rookie of the Year.
Throughout her time at Smith, O’Neil has produced over 60 NEWMAC All-Academic selections and numerous U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honorees. Her background at Ivy League powerhouse, Dartmouth College, has made sure that her players value both athletics and academics while on the team.
Running Career
As an undergraduate at Dartmouth, O’Neil was the first Dartmouth woman runner to qualify for the NCAA Championships as she won six Ivy Titles in Track and Field. In 1985, her performance named her the most Outstanding Performer of the Ivy Championships.
Prior to Smith
Prior to her appointment at Smith, O'Neil served as Head Cross-Country and Assistant Track & Field Coach at Dartmouth College for eleven years. Under her instruction, Dartmouth won four consecutive Ivy League Championships (1994-1997), leading to their six NCAA appearances, which included two Top Five finishes (1996, 1997). During her tenure, Dartmouth accumulated 28 Ivy League Champions, 15 All-Americans and 11 school-record holders. Because of her success, she was named the District 1 NCAA Cross-Country Coach of the Year in 1998.
Previous to her position at Dartmouth, O’Neil coached at her high school alma mater, Manchester High School Central. While at Central, she coached the Cross-Country team to four consecutive New England Championships and saw them ranked nationally for three of the four years that they were under her instruction.
