Pennsylvania State University, Erie, the Behrend Women's Cross Country

Cooper begins his 10th season as the men's and women's cross country head coach after completing his ninth year as head coach of the track & field teams. In eight of his last 10 years, he has been named the AMCC Coach of the Year including both teams in 2012 and 2015. Last season, the men's team won their fifth straight and ninth AMCC title, while the women captured their sixth conference championship.  In 2013, Cooper accomplished a feat never done before in winning both team titles and having the men's and women's individual winner. For the men, it marked their seventh overall conference crown while the women made it two in a row for their fifth program championship. Prior to becoming the head coach, Cooper previously served under his father, Dave Cooper, as assistant coach of the track and field team for five years and the cross country team for two years.   Cooper was a cross country and track standout at Union City High School where he was a PIAA champion in track & field (4 x 800 meter relay) and captain of Union City's 1996 PIAA State Champion cross country team.  Cooper continued his success at Behrend, where he set records in the 400 and 800 meters as well as in three relays. Cooper graduated from the Behrend MBA program in May of 2006. In addition to coaching he also instructs in the health and physical education department.

Patterson is entering her third season as an assistant coach for the Penn State Behrend mens and womens cross country teams. A three-time AMCC First-Team All-Conference selection, Patterson led the Lions to the 2012 AMCC Conference championship with a ninth-place finish at the championship meet. As a junior, she was honored with the Most Improved Runner Award and placed seventh at the AMCC Championships. In 2009, Patterson was named team Rookie of the Year. An Erie, Pa native, Patterson is currently obtaining her MBA from Penn State Behrend.

Kregel enters her second season as an assistant coach for the cross country and track & field teams at Penn State Behrend. Kregel is a 2015 graduate of Wartburg University where she was a standout runner for the Track & Field program. She is a five-time Division III All-American, once in the 800m and four times in the 4x400 relay. The relay holds the fourth fastest time in the history of the NCAA. Kregel led her team to three straight NCAA Outdoor Championships (2012-14) while helping the indoor team place fourth at nationals. She is a three-time Academic All-Conference choice and was a captain her senior year. Kregel was awarded Most Outstanding Senior Fitness Management Major and Student Employee of the Year. She was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and served as the strength and conditioning coach for the track team for the spring semester (2015). Kregel graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in fitness management with a minor in business administration and leadership. She is pursuing her MBA at Behrend.