Sam Burroughs returns for his fourth year as assistant coach of the Iona College men's and women's cross country and track and field programs. The Gaels have enjoyed unprecedented success since joining the staff in January of 2005.
In the fall of 2007, Iona earned its highest ever finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championship, earning a second place trophy in Terre Haute, IN. Senior Abraham Ng'etich and junior Mohamed Khadraoui were both named All-America for their performance, the second time in school history and second time under Coach Burroughs that two different Iona runners earned the status. The men's squad also earned their 17th straight MAAC Championship and third straight Northeast Regional Title. The women were successful at the conference level, earning a third straight MAAC Championship.
In 2006, Iona set a new standard in Cross Country at the National Championship. The third place finish solidified the Gaels as one of the nation's top cross country programs. The women's team earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship for the first time in school history by virtue of a second place finish at the Northeast Regional Championship at Van Cortlandt Park. The Gaels finished 20th overall in Terre Haute with sophomore McKayla Plank becoming just the third woman in school history to earn an All-American honor.
During Burroughs first full season as an assistant in 2005-06 both
Iona cross country programs had arguably their most sucessful seasons
to date. The men's team finished fourth at the NCAA Championship for the second
time in three years. The up and coming women's program also earned its second ever
MAAC Championship at Van Cortlandt Park in October while finishing sixth at the Northeast regional event.
Prior to coming to New Rochelle, Burroughs served as the men’s and women’s distance coach at Manhattan College. During his time with Manhattan, Burroughs led both squads to multiple MAAC Track & Field Conference Championships titles.
Burroughs, who earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology in 2000, competed as a top member of University at Buffalo’s distance squad. Burroughs remained at UB for graduate studies earning his Masters of Science in Human Performance in 2002.
A native of the capital district region of upstate New York, Burroughs now currently resides in Riverdale, NY.
