The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Names Reimer-Gonzales Director of Track and Field/Cross Country
August 29 | Cross Country, Track & Field
AKRON, Ohio – Kendra Reimer-Gonzales been named the new Director of Track and Field/Cross Country for The University of Akron (UA) track and field program, Director of Athletics Charles Guthrie announced today.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Kendra Reimer-Gonzales to the Zips family and the Akron community," said Guthrie. "She brings proven success as a former All-American student athlete and as a Director building championship caliber cross country and track and field programs and it is evident that she will provide an outstanding student-athlete experience. I look forward to the impact that Kendra will have on our student-athletes and within our Department and I couldn't be more excited for the future of our cross country and track and field programs."
Reimer-Gonzales comes to Akron after three successful campaigns at San Jose State University where she led the Spartans to a combined 22 school records and 109 all-time top performances in program history over her tenure.
"I am honored to be joining the Zips family and look forward to leading the team into the 2022-23 season," said Reimer-Gonzales. "I am privileged to be entrusted with this championship track and field and cross country program; that has a deep history of excellence. I have a vision of continuing this winning tradition, while making additional marks in the sport. I look forward to working with our talented student-athletes and coaching staff and I sincerely want to thank President Dr. Gary L. Miller, Athletic Director Charles Guthrie, and Deputy Director of Athletics Markus Jennings, along with the rest of the Akron Athletics family for this opportunity."
A six-time USTFCCCA (United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) honoree, Reimer-Gonzales led the revival of the men's program after the program's 30-year absence following her arrival at San Jose State in 2018.
San Jose State qualified a school-record six athletes to the NCAA West Preliminary Round in 2021 after earning a program-record 21 All-Mountain West Conference honors. The Spartans garnered 33 Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete citations, a trio of USTFCCCA All-Academic Scholar-Athlete laurels during her tenure.
Reimer-Gonzales arrived at San Jose State following four seasons (2015-18) as the head coach of women's cross country and track and field at San Francisco State, where her team won the 2018 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women's track and field championship, the first in program history.
In 2017 and 2018 she was named CCAA Track and Field Head Coach of the Year and four-times (2011, 2013, 2017 and 2018) she earned USTFCCCA West Region Outdoor Head Coach of the Year honors. In 2018, Reimer-Gonzales was also named the USTFCCCA West Region Indoor Head Coach of the Year and in 2009 was a USTFCCCA Assistant Coach of the Year Award recipient.
Her 2018 Gators' team placed 10th at the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships where eight Gators were named first-team All-America honorees. Her student-athletes earned 15 All-CCAA honors and 11 times were event winners.
In 2017, the Gators' women's 4x400 relay team won the NCAA Division II championship, the first in any sport at San Francisco State. Eight student-athletes advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships where the team finished in 16th place.
In four years at San Francisco State, her student-athletes garnered 18 first-team and five second-team All-America honors, set 17 school records and appeared on the program's all-time top-10 lists 68 times. She coached 17 individual conference champions
From 2010-13, Reimer-Gonzales was the head women and men's track and field coach at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, an NCAA Division III institution in Claremont, California. In four seasons she guided her women and men's teams to four SCIAC championships, while coaching nine All-Americans. Reimer-Gonzales mentored 35 individual conference champions and 153 All-SCIAC honorees, while 13 school records were set during her tenure.
From 2006 through 2010, Reimer-Gonzales was an assistant at Cal State Los Angeles (2006-2009) and Brown University (2009-2010). At both stops, she assisted in the development of 22 NCAA qualifiers, nine conference champions and 19 all-conference honorees.
As a collegian, Reimer-Gonzales attended and competed for Texas A&M. She was an All-American in the heptathlon and upon graduation held the school record in the pentathlon. She competed in the 2004 USA Olympic Trials in the heptathlon placing 11th.
She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology, and then a master's degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M. Reimer-Gonzales is a USATF Level II coach in the sprints, jumps, distance, and combined events. Additionally, she is a certified strength and conditioning coach by the USTFCCCA.
ABOUT ZIPS ATHLETICS
Founded in 1870, The University of Akron (UA) is one of Ohio's most influential public urban research universities, conducting high-quality research in focused areas of excellence, contributing to the vitality of the local economy, and providing a workforce highly trained in diverse disciplines. The University offers more than 200 degree programs, including unique, highly ranked associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral and law degrees — with accreditations by 35 professional agencies. UA is focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, investment in community and economic growth. Akron sponsors 17 NCAA Division I sports with more than 500 student-athletes. Learn more at gozips.com.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Kendra Reimer-Gonzales to the Zips family and the Akron community," said Guthrie. "She brings proven success as a former All-American student athlete and as a Director building championship caliber cross country and track and field programs and it is evident that she will provide an outstanding student-athlete experience. I look forward to the impact that Kendra will have on our student-athletes and within our Department and I couldn't be more excited for the future of our cross country and track and field programs."
Reimer-Gonzales comes to Akron after three successful campaigns at San Jose State University where she led the Spartans to a combined 22 school records and 109 all-time top performances in program history over her tenure.
"I am honored to be joining the Zips family and look forward to leading the team into the 2022-23 season," said Reimer-Gonzales. "I am privileged to be entrusted with this championship track and field and cross country program; that has a deep history of excellence. I have a vision of continuing this winning tradition, while making additional marks in the sport. I look forward to working with our talented student-athletes and coaching staff and I sincerely want to thank President Dr. Gary L. Miller, Athletic Director Charles Guthrie, and Deputy Director of Athletics Markus Jennings, along with the rest of the Akron Athletics family for this opportunity."
A six-time USTFCCCA (United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) honoree, Reimer-Gonzales led the revival of the men's program after the program's 30-year absence following her arrival at San Jose State in 2018.
San Jose State qualified a school-record six athletes to the NCAA West Preliminary Round in 2021 after earning a program-record 21 All-Mountain West Conference honors. The Spartans garnered 33 Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete citations, a trio of USTFCCCA All-Academic Scholar-Athlete laurels during her tenure.
Reimer-Gonzales arrived at San Jose State following four seasons (2015-18) as the head coach of women's cross country and track and field at San Francisco State, where her team won the 2018 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women's track and field championship, the first in program history.
In 2017 and 2018 she was named CCAA Track and Field Head Coach of the Year and four-times (2011, 2013, 2017 and 2018) she earned USTFCCCA West Region Outdoor Head Coach of the Year honors. In 2018, Reimer-Gonzales was also named the USTFCCCA West Region Indoor Head Coach of the Year and in 2009 was a USTFCCCA Assistant Coach of the Year Award recipient.
Her 2018 Gators' team placed 10th at the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships where eight Gators were named first-team All-America honorees. Her student-athletes earned 15 All-CCAA honors and 11 times were event winners.
In 2017, the Gators' women's 4x400 relay team won the NCAA Division II championship, the first in any sport at San Francisco State. Eight student-athletes advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships where the team finished in 16th place.
In four years at San Francisco State, her student-athletes garnered 18 first-team and five second-team All-America honors, set 17 school records and appeared on the program's all-time top-10 lists 68 times. She coached 17 individual conference champions
From 2010-13, Reimer-Gonzales was the head women and men's track and field coach at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, an NCAA Division III institution in Claremont, California. In four seasons she guided her women and men's teams to four SCIAC championships, while coaching nine All-Americans. Reimer-Gonzales mentored 35 individual conference champions and 153 All-SCIAC honorees, while 13 school records were set during her tenure.
From 2006 through 2010, Reimer-Gonzales was an assistant at Cal State Los Angeles (2006-2009) and Brown University (2009-2010). At both stops, she assisted in the development of 22 NCAA qualifiers, nine conference champions and 19 all-conference honorees.
As a collegian, Reimer-Gonzales attended and competed for Texas A&M. She was an All-American in the heptathlon and upon graduation held the school record in the pentathlon. She competed in the 2004 USA Olympic Trials in the heptathlon placing 11th.
She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology, and then a master's degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M. Reimer-Gonzales is a USATF Level II coach in the sprints, jumps, distance, and combined events. Additionally, she is a certified strength and conditioning coach by the USTFCCCA.
ABOUT ZIPS ATHLETICS
Founded in 1870, The University of Akron (UA) is one of Ohio's most influential public urban research universities, conducting high-quality research in focused areas of excellence, contributing to the vitality of the local economy, and providing a workforce highly trained in diverse disciplines. The University offers more than 200 degree programs, including unique, highly ranked associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral and law degrees — with accreditations by 35 professional agencies. UA is focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, investment in community and economic growth. Akron sponsors 17 NCAA Division I sports with more than 500 student-athletes. Learn more at gozips.com.
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