WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic University has named Chris Lessard as its next head coach for the Sailfish men's and women's cross country and track & field programs.
 
"I'm extremely excited to join the PBA program and work alongside some amazing people I've already met," Lessard said. "It's going to be a fast start as I get going with the athletes there, but I'm ready to take the journey alongside them. PBA has had some great success over the past few years, and I know we can continue that. PBA has all the qualities I look for when joining a program. I want to thank Courtney Lovely Evans and TJ Budd for giving me the opportunity to lead the cross country and track programs, and I'm eager to get started."
 
In four seasons as the head cross country and track coach at the University of Mary, Lessard elevated both the men's and women's programs to consistent success in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. His teams earned multiple top-three finishes at the NSIC Cross Country and Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships while qualifying the women's cross country team for the NCAA Championships in consecutive seasons. The program also produced 18 All-Conference performers in cross country, more than 140 All-Conference honorees in track & field and a national individual qualifier in cross country.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Chris Lessard to the Sailfish family," Director of Athletics Courtney Lovely Evans said. "Throughout the search process, it was evident that Chris is a strong leader with a proven ability to build successful programs, develop student-athletes, and foster a culture of excellence. He understands that success is about developing the whole student-athlete, and his commitment to faith, character, academics, and competitive excellence made him an outstanding fit. We are excited to see the impact he will have on our cross country and track & field programs for years to come."
 
During his tenure, the Marauders produced more than 100 NCAA provisional qualifying marks, seven NCAA All-Americans, an NCAA national runner-up, 18-plus school records and numerous conference and regional award winners. In addition to overseeing all aspects of the program, he managed compliance, recruiting, fundraising, meet management and strength and conditioning while hiring and supervising assistant coaches.
 
Before leading the University of Mary program, Lessard spent the 2021-22 season as cross country and distance coach at NCAA DI New Jersey Institute of Technology, where his athletes recorded more than 15 personal best performances during the cross country season. 
 
His coaching résumé also includes stops at West Texas A&M, Southwest Baptist and Chabot College, where he helped coach conference champions, NCAA national qualifiers and All-Americans while gaining experience in recruiting, compliance, budgeting, event management and student-athlete development.
 
A former collegiate distance runner with five years of competitive experience, Lessard holds a master's degree in exercise science and sport management from West Texas A&M and a bachelor's degree from California State University, East Bay. He also holds USTFCCCA certifications in track and field technical coaching and strength and conditioning.
 
Lessard's program will hit the ground running with Sailfish cross country set to begin its season in early September.