Laura Nardelli enters her 15th year as Colgate’s Head Coach of Women’s Track & Field, and 12th year as Head Coach of Women’s Cross Country. Nardelli has been named Patriot League Coach of the Year three times in her career: in 2009 she received the award for Women’s Track & Field as her team placed third at the Outdoor Patriot League Championship meet, the highest finish since 1995. In 2010 she received the award for Women’s Cross Country, as her 2010 team won the Patriot League Championship for the first time in Colgate’s history. And in 2000, Nardelli was named the Patriot League Men's Track and Field Coach of the Year after leading the Raiders to a third-place team indoor finish. She headed up the men’s team from 1998-2001 and this was their best finish since the first league meet in 1991.
In 2011 Nardelli received the Hartman Award, awarded annually to the University’s Coach of the Year, recognizing leadership, spirit, discipline, and determination; in 2012 she added to that with the Team Scholar Award, given to the Colgate team with the highest GPA.
Under Nardelli, Colgate Women’s Cross Country teams have been amongst the top three teams in the Patriot League in four of the last six years. Nardelli has coached five cross country members to seven first-team all-Patriot League recognition awards. In 2011 Elise DeRoo took third at the Patriot League Championship, leading the team to a third place finish in harsh, snowy conditions. DeRoo added that accolade to her two prior victories at the championships in 2009 and 2010. In 2010 Elise DeRoo also became the first Raider to advance to the NCAA Championships after earning All-Region honors and finishing sixth overall at the Northeast Regional.
Also in 2010, Chelsea Burns received the Patriot League Runner-up title, as the pair led their team to the Patriot League victory. In 2007, Stacey Marion '11 became the first rookie runner in league history to also claim the league title, and Elizabeth Kennedy '08 finished fourth. Kennedy later took the ECAC title and went on to garner NCAA All-Region honors. Nardelli’s cross-country teams have also been honored with the NCAA Division I All-Academic Team award for 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, 2012.
In 2012 Nardelli’s Track & Field squads earned 13 All-League titles, and Chelsea Burns ’12 was named Patriot League Track Athlete of the Meet indoors after she won the mile and the 3000 meter run, and ran the 800 meter leg of the Distance Medley Relay. In the same meet freshman Alicia Minella ’15 was named Patriot League Rookie of the Meet for her runner-up performances in the 200 and 400 meter dashes, as well as her 400 meter leg in the second place relay. Burns went on to represent Colgate at the NCAA Outdoor Track Regional Championship, where she was the ECAC Champion and Patriot League Champion for 5000 meters, and runner up in the 1500, establishing new school records in both events. Minella also represented Colgate at the ECAC Championship in the 400, in which she set a new Colgate record. At Colgate, Nardelli has produced 136 All-Patriot League performers, eight Patriot League Athletes of the Meet, eight ECAC medalists, and 12 NCAA qualifiers.
Prior to arriving in Hamilton, Nardelli had nine years of coaching experience at West Virginia, Eastern Michigan and Cortland. Nardelli began her coaching career in 1983 at Cortland. In 1985, she was named SUNY Athletic Conference Coach of the Year while leading the Red Dragons to first place at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track Championship and second place at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track Championship.
In 1986, she became the assistant track & field coach at Eastern Michigan University where she helped the Eagles to a second-place finish at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship.
Nardelli was appointed head cross country and track and field coach at West Virginia University in 1986. During her five years at the helm of the Mountaineers' program, she coached 68 ECAC All-Conference athletes, four NCAA All-Americans, and one Olympic Trials Qualifier. Her cross country teams finished in the ECAC top 10 twice, while her indoor track team placed among the top 10 three times, including a third-place finish in 1991.
A 1982 graduate of Syracuse University, Nardelli served as captain of the Orange track and field and cross country teams in 1981 and 1982. She earned a master's degree in physical education while serving as a graduate assistant in the Syracuse athletic department's academic advising office in 1984.
A professional bicycle racer from 1995 to 1999, Nardelli competed in the 1996 Olympic trials. She resides in Hamilton with her husband, Ray, and their three children.
