BIDDEFORD, Maine -- University of New England Director of Athletics Heather Davis announced Thursday (June 4) the hiring of Kourtney Bonsey as head coach of the men's and women's cross country teams, as well as the new sport of women's outdoor track & field.

"It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome Kourtney Bonsey to UNE," Davis commented. "Her experience leading previous programs to conference championships and her commitment to offering a positive student experience for her athletes will enable her to further grow the rich tradition of success fostered by our former head cross country coach, Ron Ouellette. We also believe Kourtney will bring the expertise and passion needed to launch our newest varsity sport in women's outdoor track & field. I would like to thank the chair of our search committee, Curt Smyth, and the other committee members for their efforts in conducting a comprehensive national search that included a highly-qualified group of candidates."

Bonsey replaces Ouellette on the cross country side, who retired in December after 20 years guiding the Nor'easters. Women's track & field, which has existed in club form for a few years, will become UNE's 18th varsity program in 2020-21.

She comes to UNE following four years as head coach at Regis College (Mass.) [NCAA III], where she was in charge of men's and women's teams in both cross country and a track & field program that included indoor and outdoor seasons. Bonsey led the Pride to team titles in women's cross country (2016 New England Collegiate Conference), men's outdoor track & field (2018 Great Northeast Athletic Conference), and two in women's outdoor track & field (2018 and 2019 Great Northeast Athletic Conference), and three of those championship performances included the Coach of the Year distinction. The track & field teams have established more than half (48) of the program records under her watch. She also coached the first Regis athlete to the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the long jump and a ninth-place finish.

Prior to Regis, Bonsey was an assistant coach in 2015-16 at Wellesley College, which had competitors reach the national championships in all three seasons. She was a graduate assistant at Regis from 2013-15, while she attained a master's degree in special education. Bonsey also has a USTFCCCA Level I Certification.

She earned a 2013 bachelor's degree in teaching at the University of Maine, and ran both cross country and track & field for the NCAA Division I Black Bears. Bonsey clocked a 37:48 to place fourth in the 10,000 meter at the 2012 America East Conference Outdoor Championships, nearly one minute faster than her time the previous season. At the 2011 America East Indoor Championships, she took seventh in the 5,000 meter with a time of 18:11.

Bonsey is eager to return to her home state and start working with the Nor'easters.

"I am honored to become the next head coach of women's and men's cross country, and to start the women's track & field program at the University of New England," said Bonsey. "I want to thank Director of Athletics Heather Davis, Curt Smyth, and the search committee for this incredible opportunity. I am extremely excited to join a community that is committed to both academic and athletic excellence. I look forward to working with the student-athletes and helping them grow and develop throughout their time at the University of New England."

Bonsey takes over a men's cross country squad that is coming off back-to-back Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) titles, and a women's program that is a year removed (and one point) from a run of seven consecutive CCC crowns.