Clarion Athletics

Marie Gritzer, 62, begins her 17th year on the Clarion University coaching staff and her eighth on the links as the Golden Eagle Women's Golf coach.

Gritzer was named the Women's Golf coach in October of 2007, when it was announced by Clarion President Dr. Joseph Grunenwald, and athletic director Dave Katis, that Clarion would field an intercollegiate golf team beginning in the Fall of 2008.

"I am really excited to be the women's golf coach at Clarion," said Gritzer. "Having the opportunity to be a part of creating history here at Clarion was hard to pass up."

Gritzer was an assistant coach with the men's and women's cross country teams at Clarion for 8 years, as well as with the indoor and outdoor track and field programs with the Golden Eagles. She was named first assistant in 2002 and served five years in that capacity through the Summer of 2007. She holds USA Track and Field Association Levels I and II certifications, and is a dedicated coach.

"In my years at Clarion I have recruited and coached many successful student athletes, plus been very involved in the administrative end including budget preparation, scheduling and the like," Gritzer said. "At Clarion we have a tradition of quality student-athletes, that's the kind of athletes we always recruited in track and cross country, and that is our mission with the golf program."

Gritzer is no stranger to starting new programs. In 1996 Clarion-Limestone High School started a new boys and girls cross country team and Gritzer started those teams from scratch as well. She coached both programs from 1996-2001 with much success.

A native of Latrobe, Pa., Marie graduated from Derry Area in 1969 and has resided in Clarion since 1970. Marie and husband Denny have a daughter Christina.

CLARION NOTES: The last sport added at Clarion was Women's Soccer ... The program was added in 2000 and started as an intercollegiate sport in 2001... Before that Women's Cross Country was started as an intercollegiate sport in the Fall of 1978... Prior to that Women's Track was started in the Spring of 1978.