THIBODAUX, La. – Nicholls State University director of athletics Matt Roan announced Tuesday that former North Texas head cross country coach and Syracuse standout Stefanie Slekis has accepted the position of head cross country and track and field coach for the Colonels, pending approval from the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.

"We are proud to announce Stefanie Slekis as the new Nicholls cross country and track and field coach," Roan said. "Stefanie has developed successful individuals and teams at every stop in her career, and she has an unwavering commitment to leading our student-athletes academically, athletically, and socially. She understands the Southland from her time at McNeese, she has ties that span the country, even globally, that will support our recruiting efforts, and she understands exactly what it takes to win. We are excited to place Stefanie in charge and know that she will do great things for the Colonels."

Slekis spent the last four years serving as the head men's and women's cross country and assistant track and field coach for the Mean Green.

North Texas cross country programs saw immediate success under Slekis' tutelage as the men were Conference USA runner-ups in 2013 and champions in 2014. Consequently, she was deemed 2014 C-USA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year. The women also posted top-three finishes in Slekis' first two seasons at the helm.

"I am honored to join the Nicholls family and want to thank Matt Roan and President Dr. Bruce Murphy for this opportunity," Slekis said. "During my visit to Thibodaux I continued to be impressed by Matt's vision for the athletic department and the resources available to our student-athletes. President Murphy's support of our student-athletes makes Nicholls an ideal place to coach as I want to guide our student-athletes to achieve their best academically, athletically, and professionally. I am excited to get to work building a championship tradition for the men's and women's cross country and women's track and field programs that Nicholls students, alumni, and supporters can be proud to have representing them in the Southland Conference and NCAA."

Slekis was an integral piece of a Mean Green indoor track program that produced the 2015 men's 3000-meter and women's mile champions in Troy Taylor and Susie Kemper, respectively. Taylor additionally qualified for the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships as one of five men to earn NCAA South Central Cross Country All-Region honors during Slekis' four-year span. Three women also received all-region honors.

Slekis contributed to 28 cross country and 13 track and field student-athletes receiving All-C-USA honors during her tenure with North Texas.

Slekis' success translated to the track as 10 distance student-athletes set school records and five individuals qualified for the NCAA West Outdoor Track and Field Preliminary Rounds.

Slekis is currently the USTFCCCA south central region men's cross country representative, tasked with participating in monthly executive meeting to review current and future submitted proposals and voting for regional and national polls throughout the season.

Slekis earned All-Big East honors twice as an indoor student-athlete with the Orange, finishing fourth in the 3000m outdoor steeplechase and eighth in the 3000m indoor at the Big East championships in 2010. She was a 2010 NCAA East Preliminary qualifier in the 3000m steeplechase and 10,000m.

Slekis received a bachelor's degree in public relations at Syracuse. The Montclair, Virginia, native graduated Summa Cum Laude at Arizona State in 2012, acquiring a master's degree in higher and postsecondary education.

What They're Saying

 "Stefanie Slekis is a young coach who made an immediate impact when she joined our program four years ago. The improvement in our cross country program, which was her responsibility, was phenomenal. In fact, the men's team won the conference in her second year there. Student-athletes progressed; we saw personal bests on a regular basis. I think she's somebody that will definitely invest the time to get the very best out of her student-athletes."

– Rick Villarreal, Former University of North Texas Athletics Director (2001-2016)

"Coach Slekis is a great coach. Her methods are very team-oriented and focused on creating a stronger team relationship. Being a very motivated person by nature, she's really good at making you want to work harder every day. She understands what it takes to win a championship title and compete at a high level as she was able to do and accomplish with us during her time at North Texas. I think she's going to be a great addition to the programs at Nicholls."

- Troy Taylor, UNT graduate and three-time NCAA qualifier under Slekis

"Stef has grown tremendously since I first met her as an 18-year-old. She knows the sport as much as anyone her age and is willing to continue to learn. Her various stops on the coaching trail have her very prepared for this challenge at Nicholls State."

– Chris Fox, Syracuse Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach

"I'm excited for Stefanie and your university. Nicholls is getting a well-prepared, young coach with a ton of enthusiasm. She will definitely sink her passion and knowledge into the development of her student-athletes."

– Brien Bell, Syracuse Associate Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach