Husband and Wife Team Up as Cross Country Coaches
August 30, 2024
Social Science Instructor Virginia Sticinski started teaching at 探花约啪 Tech in 2001, but for the first time in her career, she just took on a new title—coach.
She and her husband, Leo, began coaching the College’s men’s and women’s cross country teams this fall season. And while Virginia has been a runner for most of her life, she’s never been a coach.
“I love it so far,” she said during a recent interview in her office on the Stanton Campus. “It takes a lot of time, but it’s really rewarding.”
Preseason for the student-athletes on the cross country team started at the beginning of August with seven runners on the men’s team and four on the women’s team. Four of those students are returning athletes and the rest are new to the 探花约啪 Tech team.
“They’re all great kids,” Virginia said. “They’re all motivated to run.”
Virginia started running as a student at the University of 探花约啪 (“It was a way to stave off the freshman 15,” she said), but got more serious in her 30s when she and her husband started running together. They eventually graduated to running marathons. Virginia has competed in more than 20, including the Boston Marathon, the New York City Marathon (her favorite), and the Marine Corps Marathon. That’s in addition to dozens of half-marathons, as well as 10k and 5k runs.
Leo is a lifelong athlete, competing in sports since middle school and throwing himself into competitive racquetball in his 20s. Once he started running, he also began competing, starting with 10k runs and working his way up to full marathons.
“My greatest joy came from the sense of accomplishment I had as I approached the starting line, knowing the benefits of 18 weeks of dedicated training,” Leo said. “Understanding the importance of hard work, discipline, and nutrition in my training program led to positive results. Now, I look forward to helping others achieve their goals with the lessons I've learned."
Leo’s father coached football and baseball, and Leo coached Little League baseball many years ago. He also coached soccer when his sons were younger.
“With my father being a coach and a teacher, I think I’ve always liked that aspect of helping people or training people whether it’s been in athletics or business,” he said.
Virginia and Leo have greatly appreciated the support of Assistant Coach Karin Ryndak, who had worked with the cross country team previously and has helped to provide consistency for the returning members of the team. The three coach together on Saturdays when the team practices on various trails in New Castle County.
Kayla Fromal, program manager of campus athletics for the Stanton Campus, has never worked with husband-and-wife coaches at the College before but said the Sticinskis make a good team.
“I think they have a good camaraderie with each other,” she said.
And they both enjoy working with the student-athletes.
“I’m getting more out of it than I’m putting in,” Leo said. “I’m just enjoying this to no end. They’re wonderful kids.”
