INDIANA, Pa. – Patrick Gildea, a former NCAA Division I student-athlete and assistant coach, has been appointed the next director of cross country and track & field at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
 
Gildea served as a successful assistant coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga since 2023, helping grow the Mocs' cross country and track and field programs. Gildea competed as an accomplished cross country and track student-athlete at the University of Tennessee in the early 2000s. 
 
"I am excited to bring my experiences to Indiana and the Crimson Hawk family," Gildea said. "I am grateful to Todd (Garzarelli) and the search committee, who introduced me to the campus during the interview process."
 
"I am proud to formally welcome Patrick to the IUP department of athletics," director of athletics Todd Garzarelli said. "I'm confident in Patrick's ability to restore the national prominence of our cross country and track and field programs."
 
Gildea helped both UT-Chattanooga men's and women's cross country programs to top-20 finishes in a very competitive NCAA DI South Regional this past fall. He's recruited and mentored numerous student-athletes on the UT-Chattanooga rosters to personal records, all-conference honors and individual conference championship honors.
 
"Patrick is a very accomplished runner, recruiter and versatile coach who understands what it takes to build a championship culture without sacrificing a quality academic or student-athlete experience," Garzarelli continued. 
 
Individual accolades under the tutelage of Gildea include Ryleigh Simmons, who became the first-ever UTC sprinter to claim the 100-meter title for the Mocs. Lesley Boyd and Maddie Wheatcroft finished first and third, respectively, in the 5000-meter. Emma Thweatt earned Southern Conference all-freshman honors in the 10,000-meter during the 2025 outdoor season.
 
"Everyone had positive things to say about the IUP and the Indiana community," Gildea said. "I believe that IUP is a place where student-athletes can thrive and be successful. I am looking forward to working with coach (Hanoj) Carter and our student-athletes, while continuing to build foundational relationships within our program."
 
As a student-athlete, Gildea helped Tennessee to the 2002 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
 
He earned all-region honors in cross country in 2001 and 2002 and was named to the All-SEC Team. Gildea was named a SEC Cross Country Athlete of the Week and the Most Valuable Runner. He was one of two Vol runners to score in every race of the season. Gildea received the Vega-Watts Award given for the greatest sacrifice to compete for the team.
 
Following his collegiate career, he went on to compete professionally in track and field. He placed in the top-10 overall in numerous competitions in 2008 and 2009. Gildea achieved international recognition, selected for a pair of International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) World Championship events in 2006 and 2008. He finished seventh at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 10,000-meter run.
 
After running professionally, Gildea was a graduate assistant coach at Saint Francis University from 2010-2012, where he guided numerous student-athletes to All-NEC performances in both cross country and track and field. Following his time at Saint Francis, he was the head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at West High School, in addition to his teaching duties from 2012-2020.
 
About IUP
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As IUP celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025 and through the Impact 150 comprehensive campaign, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking to its next 150 years of student success, innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.