Laurie Pray Joins Osprey Cross Country and Track & Field Staff
8/29/2018 3:33:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Men's Track, Women's Track
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida head cross country/track & field coach Jeff Pigg announced the hiring of Laurie Pray as an assistant coach for the Osprey program.
Pray comes to UNF following a stint as a director of operations of women's track & field and cross country at University of Alabama at Birmingham. She began her career as a volunteer assistant coach on the UAB staff in 2017.
"Laurie is an energetic young woman with a passion to become a collegiate coach," said Pigg. "She will be very helpful as we move forward in recruiting, hosting meets and working through the daily grind."
No stranger to the sport, Pray has totaled 16 years as a competitive track & field athlete, including four years at the collegiate level. As a member of the UAB cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field teams, Pray competed in the 800m, 1500m, mile, 3K steeplechase, 3K and 5K.
"I'm very excited about the opportunity to join the Osprey family and work alongside coach Pigg and coach Krupa," said Pray. "The team culture and pride that has been instilled in this group of student-athletes is amazing to be a part of. I'm looking forward to contributing to the programs' continued success and seeing how great we will be this season."
A native of Smyrna, Ga., Pray graduated from UAB in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Prior to UAB, she was a standout prep runner that set the school record in the mile as a member of a track & field team that garnered back-to-back region championships.
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Pray comes to UNF following a stint as a director of operations of women's track & field and cross country at University of Alabama at Birmingham. She began her career as a volunteer assistant coach on the UAB staff in 2017.
"Laurie is an energetic young woman with a passion to become a collegiate coach," said Pigg. "She will be very helpful as we move forward in recruiting, hosting meets and working through the daily grind."
No stranger to the sport, Pray has totaled 16 years as a competitive track & field athlete, including four years at the collegiate level. As a member of the UAB cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field teams, Pray competed in the 800m, 1500m, mile, 3K steeplechase, 3K and 5K.
"I'm very excited about the opportunity to join the Osprey family and work alongside coach Pigg and coach Krupa," said Pray. "The team culture and pride that has been instilled in this group of student-athletes is amazing to be a part of. I'm looking forward to contributing to the programs' continued success and seeing how great we will be this season."
A native of Smyrna, Ga., Pray graduated from UAB in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Prior to UAB, she was a standout prep runner that set the school record in the mile as a member of a track & field team that garnered back-to-back region championships.
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