A former University Athletic Association champion who held three track records at Rochester is returning to campus as the first director of track and field for the聽University.
Samuel Albert 鈥�01, 鈥�02W (MS), who also was a New York State Collegiate Track Conference champion specializing in the sprints and hurdles, will oversee the cross country and track and field programs and will be a coach for the track and field teams.
George VanderZwaag, the University鈥檚 director of athletics, says he鈥檚 looking forward to the growth of Yellowjacket programs under Albert鈥檚 leadership.
鈥淪am obviously brings a close connection to our programs,鈥� VanderZwaag says. 鈥淏ut more than that, he brings professional experience that will allow him to succeed in this important role.鈥�
Albert returns to Rochester from New York University where he has served as the coordinator for the Violet Booster Club since August 2006. He was responsible for development and alumni relations programs for NYU鈥檚 21-sport program. He also managed the athletics department鈥檚 annual fundraising campaign. For the past year, he has been an assistant coach with the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 track and field programs at NYU.
As a senior at Rochester, Albert received the John Vitone Award from the Department of Athletics and Recreation for outstanding sportsmanship in the men鈥檚 program. At the time of his graduation, he held three school records鈥攖he indoor 500 meter run, the indoor 4 x 400 meter relay, and the outdoor 4 x 400 meter relay.
鈥淭he University has a long and storied tradition of excellence in cross country and track and field,鈥� Albert says. 鈥淚 am really looking forward to working with the outstanding student-athletes and staff here.鈥�
From 2002 to 2004, Albert served as an assistant track coach, working primarily with the sprinters. He coached Yellowjacket athletes who broke 20 school records, won four New York State championships and two Eastern College Athletic Conference championships, and three who earned All-American honors.