Chris Lessard Joins Cross Country/Track and Field Staff

NEWARK, N.J. --- NJIT cross country/track and field head coach Jason Munsch has announced the hiring of Christopher Lessard as the program's assistant coach for distance.

Lessard comes to Highlander Nation after stints at Division II West Texas A&M University (2020-21) and Southwest Baptist University (2019-20), serving as assistant XC/TF coach and recruiting coordinator at both schools.

At West Texas A&M, Lessard co-managed all aspects of the men's and women's programs (training design, scheduling, travel, recruiting, scholarships, budgeting, and ordering) and helped WTAMU produce several NCAA national qualifiers and top three national finishes. At Southwest Baptist, Lessard helped the women's cross country team earn a top-20 national finish and a pair of All-American selections.

Lessard also coached a season at two-year Chabot College (2018-19), helping facilitate the annual San Francisco Distance Carnival Meet and coaching several California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) state champions in distance events (800m, 3K Steeple, 5K, 10K).

Lessard is a 2018 graduate of California State University, East Bay (Bachelor's, Philosophy), where he spent part of his senior year as a Compliance intern. He is currently pursuing his Master of Exercise Science and Sports Management from West Texas A&M.

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