AKIL ST. LOUIS RETURNS TO CSI AS NEW CROSS-COUNTRY / TRACK & FIELD HEAD COACH

9/13/2023 10:00:00 AM

Staten Island, NY - It was announced earlier this month that Akil St. Louis has been named the new CSI Cross-Country / Track & Field Head Coach. For St. Louis, the appointment marks his second stint as part of the Cross-Country / Track & Field coaching staff. Previously, he served as an assistant coach under Andrew Gangemi from 2019 through 2021.

St. Louis is a Staten Island native who competed at the NCAA Division I level at Long Island University. A Certified USA Track & Field Coach with a Middle and Distance Certification from The U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association, his extensive coaching experience includes coaching at the high school level, at CSI, and a stop at Alliance University where he worked with the program's mid and distance runners. With the closure of Alliance University coming as CSI was searching for a new head coach, the door was opened for a reunion between St. Louis and the College of Staten Island.

"We are grateful for having Akil come back to CSI," said Director of Athletics Chase Licata. "His dedication to the Staten Island Track Community and his love for CSI Track is undeniable. We have come full circle, and I am glad to have Akil leading the rebuild and restructure of our program. Akil brings a multitude of Division II coaching experience and was also a former DI student-athlete."

St. Louis is excited by the opportunity to return, and he credits his background in the sport as a student-athlete with providing him a foundation built upon patience. "Being around the sport of Track and Field since 1997, mentors such as Ronald "Bubba" Banks, Vinny Giles, and Jeremy Alvarez have given me informative tutelage and taught me the value of patience. I will carry those principles they helped instill in me into this role." Speaking of why it was the right time to return to CSI St. Louis said, "making the decision to accept this position was an easy one. Simply put, it was the right time and right situation to build something successful."

In addition to the vast experience St. Louis brings to the role, Licata also remarked on his ability to connect with the student-athletes. "Akil's relationship-building with the student-athletes is a key asset for the speedy growth of the program. We have seen it since he has been hired. His ability to connect with the student-athletes and work with them through difficult processes has brought an atmosphere of positivity to the program. Akil is versatile coach who is always willing to help the student-athletes reach their goals. We are excited for Akil's guidance and can't wait to see the program in action."

The CSI Cross-Country / Track & Field program has been going through a great deal of transition within the last year. Former Head Coach Andrew Gangemi departed at the conclusion of the Cross-Country season last year, and the program has been awaiting a new head coach since that time. Earlier this year, a new Track & Field complex was unveiled on campus bolstering the program along with all of Staten Island's Track & Field community. Despite all of the recent changes, the program's new head coach is looking to move forward with a methodical approach.

"My vision is to approach this new and exciting position with patience," said St. Louis. "The same building blocks and fundamentals that have built successful programs in the past will be utilized here. Whether it will be through recruiting or coaching, it is important to cultivate a system of small victories to build the foundation for a winning culture. This process will take perseverance from both our student-athletes and coaches. Once we all get started on this journey toward success, the puzzle pieces will begin to come together."

The season will begin for the College of Staten Island Cross-Country Team on September 23^rd at the Fred Pavlich Invitational. That meet will be the first of six meets on the schedule for the team during St. Louis' first season as head coach.

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