Stevens Point Area Senior High Names New Head Girls Cross Country Coaches

Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) proudly announces the appointment of Zoe Browne and Pat Leahy as the new Co-Head Coaches of the Girls Cross Country Team.

Coach Zoe Browne is a 2005 graduate of SPASH and furthered her education at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she was an active member of the Women's Cross Country team. During her time as a student-athlete at SPASH, Coach Browne participated in both the Girls Cross Country and Girls Track & Field teams, earning four letters in each sport. She was a key member of the state championship Girls Cross Country teams in 2002 and 2003, both of which are honored in the SPASH Hall of Fame. Additionally, she secured a state title in Track and Field as part of the 4x800m relay team. Since 2012, Coach Browne has been an assistant coach for Girls Cross Country and Girls Track & Field. Alongside her coaching duties, she teaches art at P.J. Jacobs Junior High within the Stevens Point Area School District.

Coach Pat Leahy, a 1989 SPASH graduate, attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he participated on the Mens Track & Field team. While at SPASH, Coach Leahy earned three letters in both the Boys Cross Country and Boys Track & Field teams. He began his coaching career at SPASH in 1992, serving as an assistant coach for the Boys Cross Country program until 2002. In 1994, he took on the role of distance coach for the Boys Track & Field teams, contributing to the coaching staff that achieved the boys' state track and field championship in 2023. In 2009, Coach Leahy transitioned to the Girls Cross Country program as an assistant coach. He is also employed by the Stevens Point Area School District, and this past cross-country season, the home course for SPASH at Standing Rocks Park was named the “Leahy XC Course” in recognition of his commitment to maintaining and developing the courses at the park. Additionally, Coach Leahy serves as a Lead Teacher at the Portage County Juvenile Detention Center.

Athletic Director David Hauser's Statement on New Leadership
Athletic Director David Hauser expressed his optimism regarding the new leadership of the girls' cross country program, stating, "We are fortunate to have Zoe and Pat prepared and eager to assume leadership of this program. They possess extensive experience as former SPASH and collegiate competitive runners, alongside their accomplishments as coaches. Their dedication to the sport and their commitment to enhancing the achievements of the Stevens Point Area Senior High Girls Cross Country program is of great significance."

Coaches Browne and Leahy expressed their excitement about the opportunity to lead the SPASH Girls Cross Country team in a joint statement. They noted, “Having worked as assistants to Mike 'Coachie' Olson, we have gained significant insight into fostering a successful and positive team environment. While we understand that we have big shoes to fill, our decade-long coaching team collaboration makes this transition natural. Our goal is to develop competitive runners and teams, and we share a philosophy of creating a positive atmosphere where girls feel welcomed and supported by their teammates and coaches, build confidence, and cultivate a healthy perspective on exercise and fitness.”