Columbia University Athletics has announced today that Dan Ireland has been selected as the new Director of Cross Country and Track & Field for the Columbia programs beginning this fall.

“In reviewing all of the candidates for this position, Dan’s experience, leadership and understanding of The Ivy League really stood out,” said Columbia’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education, Dr. M. Dianne Murphy. “He has achieved success as a student-athlete, an assistant coach and a head coach. We are excited for him to come on board.”

“I am excited and humbled to be named the Director of Cross Country and Track and Field at Columbia University,” Ireland said in the official Columbia Athletics press release.  “Columbia has a long and storied tradition of success in cross country and track and field. I know that the young men and women who compete for Columbia are outstanding for their dedication to the sport, and their success in the classroom. I am excited to be working with many elite student-athletes.”

If the name sounds familiar, it is because Ireland was the former Head’s Men Cross Country, Distance, and Middle Distance Coach at Yale University from 1999 to 2011.  He had spent the last 3 years at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pa., as the Head Men and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field Coach, where he had coached 2 Atlantic 10 championship cross country teams and earned 2 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year awards.  For the last two seasons, Ireland has served as the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Cross Country representative on the NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Executive Committee.

Also, the coach Ireland is replacing, Willy Wood, has been named as the new coach at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.

“[Coach Wood] is a highly accomplished coach who has achieved national success in a very rigorous academic environment,” said Bradley Athletic Director Michael Cross, who served as an Assistant Athletic Director at Princeton before taking over in Peoria. “His success made him the clear choice as our head coach. He is a passionate competitor and his energy and enthusiasm for this opportunity was notable from our first conversation.”