Ursuline College Women's Cross Country

Best was named head cross country/assistant track and field coach in July of 2015. During his first season at the helm of the Ursuline program, freshman Ashley Pucella led the way for the Arrows in every meet during 2015. She currently ranks 6th all time in school history in the 6k.  Best came to Pepper Pike from the University of New Haven where he worked with both the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams. From 2010 through the end of the 2014-15 academic year, he tutored mid-distance and distance runners at the Division II school located in Connecticut. Best has coached numerous all-conference and all-region award winners. In 2013-14, New Haven track and field had eight student-athletes earn All-America laurels in a program-record seven different events. The cross country and track squads also succeeded academically, as recognized by the USTFCCCA, the Northeast-10 and the University of New Haven. Best competed two years for the Chargers in both cross country and track & field, while being named team captain his senior year. Prior to UNH, he spent two seasons at SUNY Delhi and earned his associate's degree. While at Delhi, he earned All-America honors in track and field while leading the team to a pair of NJCAA Division III National Championships. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management of Sports Industries and Business Management at UNH in 2010 and earned a Master's Degree in Labor Relations at New Haven. Best holds a USTFCCCA Endurance Specialist Certification.  This summer Best earned his Strength and Conditioning certification through USTFCCCA.  Coaching Career Accomplishments Ursuline College Indoor Second Place Finish at G-MAC Championships Indoor - 15 Top 5 Performances Indoor One NCAA Qualifier Indoor Three School Record Performances Indoor G-MAC Freshman and Field Athlete of the Year Outdoor Second Place Finish at G-MAC Championships Outdoor 12 Top 5 Performances Outdoor One NCAA Qualifier Outdoor One All Region Athlete Outdoor One School Record Performance Outdoor G-MAC Freshman and Field Athlete of the Year Outdoor First individual in school history to compete at the Historic Penn Relays   **Largest recruiting class in school history University of New Haven  4x Women's Cross Country USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams  5x Northeast-10 Conference All-Academic Cross Country and Track & Field performers  57 Track & Field All Northeast 10 Conference Team Performers  10th place finish in Women's Northeast 10 Cross Country Championship (2011, Best Team Finish)  9x New England Champions Individual qualifiers  15th place finish in the Women's NCAA Division II Cross Country East Region Championships (2011)    Alaric Best Head Cross Country Coach/Assistant Track & Field (Mid-Distance/Distance) Alaric Best was named head cross country/assistant track and field coach in July of 2015. During his first season at the helm of the Ursuline program, freshman Ashley Pucella led the way for the Arrows in every meet during 2015. She currently ranks 6th all time in school history in the 6k.  Best came to Pepper Pike from the University of New Haven where he worked with both the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams. From 2010 through the end of the 2014-15 academic year, he tutored mid-distance and distance runners at the Division II school located in Connecticut. Best has coached numerous all-conference and all-region award winners. In 2013-14, New Haven track and field had eight student-athletes earn All-America laurels in a program-record seven different events. The cross country and track squads also succeeded academically, as recognized by the USTFCCCA, the Northeast-10 and the University of New Haven. Best competed two years for the Chargers in both cross country and track & field, while being named team captain his senior year. Prior to UNH, he spent two seasons at SUNY Delhi and earned his associate's degree. While at Delhi, he earned All-America honors in track and field while leading the team to a pair of NJCAA Division III National Championships. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management of Sports Industries and Business Management at UNH in 2010 and earned a Master's Degree in Labor Relations at New Haven. Best holds a USTFCCCA Endurance Specialist Certification.  This summer Best earned his Strength and Conditioning certification through USTFCCCA.  Coaching Career Accomplishments Ursuline College Indoor Second Place Finish at G-MAC Championships Indoor - 15 Top 5 Performances Indoor One NCAA Qualifier Indoor Three School Record Performances Indoor G-MAC Freshman and Field Athlete of the Year Outdoor Second Place Finish at G-MAC Championships Outdoor 12 Top 5 Performances Outdoor One NCAA Qualifier Outdoor One All Region Athlete Outdoor One School Record Performance Outdoor G-MAC Freshman and Field Athlete of the Year Outdoor First individual in school history to compete at the Historic Penn Relays   **Largest recruiting class in school history University of New Haven  4x Women's Cross Country USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams  5x Northeast-10 Conference All-Academic Cross Country and Track & Field performers  57 Track & Field All Northeast 10 Conference Team Performers  10th place finish in Women's Northeast 10 Cross Country Championship (2011, Best Team Finish)  9x New England Champions Individual qualifiers  15th place finish in the Women's NCAA Division II Cross Country East Region Championships (2011)