SARASOTA, Fla. - New College Athletics have officially announced Alec Valle as the school's first men's/women's cross country head coach. 

Hailing from Newburgh, NY, Alec Valle's passion for cross country and track and field began at Blair Academy and continued through his athletic journey at both Division I and Division II levels. He earned a BS in Psychology from Sacred Heart University and an MBA from Georgian Court University. Valle's distinguished career includes being named the 2023 CACC Track Athlete of the Year, with victories in the 10,000m and 5,000m events. He was also recognized as a Division II All-East Region 3000m Steeplechase team member in 2023. At Georgian Court University, Valle set multiple school records in the 5,000m, 10,000m, 3000m Steeplechase, 6k, and 10k cross country. Additionally, he was part of a conference-winning cross country team and led his team to the highest regional finish in school history at the NCAA Division II East Region Cross Country Championships in the fall of 2023.

"I am incredibly honored to take on the role as the head coach for men's/women's cross country at New College" said Valle in an interview. "This is an exciting opportunity to truly build something from the ground up. I am excited to help our athletes develop, and I hope to build a program that embodies excellence, teamwork, and a relentless pursuit of success." 

Alec previously served as the Head Coach of Cross Country and Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field at Stuart Country Day School in Princeton, NJ. Under his leadership, the team achieved significant success, including NJISAA Prep B championships in the triple jump and high jump and notable performances in the 800m, 400mH, 4x400m relay, as well as on the cross country course.

The men's/women's cross country teams are set to make their debut in the fall of 2025.