Iona College director of cross country and track & field
Joe Pienta filled out his 2020-21 coaching staff with the hiring of Christine Eisenberg as assistant coach. Eisenberg joins the Maroon & Gold after a successful tenure as a student-athlete with Stony Brook and three full seasons on the coaching staff with the La Salle Explorers.
"I am extremely honored to join the cross country and track & field program here at Iona College. Coach Pienta and his staff have contributed greatly to these program's long records of excellence and success. I am excited to work alongside them and with our student-athletes to continue that tradition. Go Gaels!"
Coach Pienta adds, "I am elated to announce the addition of Christine Eisenberg to our staff. Her experience at La Salle under the tutelage of Head Coach & Explorer (as well as an Iona alum) Tom Peterson will help our staff and team keep achieving both within the growing competitiveness of the MAAC and within the aggregate of the NCAA. "
Pienta continues, "She also brings a level of competitiveness as seen with her steeplechase prowess under the watchful eye of The Grand Seawolf himself, Coach Andy Ronan at Stony Brook.
Christine fits into the mission of Iona and our athletic department, and I know her will to succeed shall help our entire program achieve at Brobdingnagian proportions."
Eisenberg was a graduate assistant for two years with La Salle prior to being promoted to assistant coach before the 2019-20 season. She originally joined the La Salle program in the summer of 2017.
In her first season as assistant coach, Eisenberg helped the Explorers in sweeping the men's and women's team titles at the 2019 Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championships. The remainder of her first full-time season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eisenberg holds Stony Brook's school record in the 3000m Steeplechase (10:09.45) and was a two-time Outdoor NCAA East Prelims Qualifier (2016-17) for the 3000m Steeplechase. She also was the 2016 Indoor America East Champion in the 3000m.
Eisenberg earned America East All-Conference and Northeast All-Region as a senior in cross country and received the 2016 Stony Brook University Coaches Award. She was also nominated for Stony Brook's 2017 Female Athlete of the Year.
She graduated from Stony Brook in May of 2017 with a Bachelor's Degree in psychology and earned a Master's Degree in education from La Salle in August 2019.
