Tallahassee State College Welcomes New Women's Cross Country Coach
Tallahassee, Fla – (July 25, 2024) – Tallahassee State College is thrilled to announce the appointment of Kara Guinan as the new head coach of the women's cross country team. With an impressive background in athletics and a commitment to student-athlete development, Coach Guinan brings a wealth of knowlege and passion to our program.
Guinan joins Tallahassee State College after a spell as assistant cross country coach for local Chiles High School. Guinan has also spent the last two years coaching for a local youth summer running program. As a former athlete herself, Guinan understands the challenges and triumphs that come with competitive sports, making her a relatable and inspiring leader for our student-athletes.
"My goal for the Women's Cross Country Program is to create an environment where student athletes have the opportunity to improve and develop both athletically and academically." Guinan Said. "I value the healthy mind-body connection that running requires and look to emphasize this in my coaching. I look to improve the physical and mental performance of each athlete while helping each achieve their own personal goals."
Guinan was a three-sport athlete in high school competing in cross country, basketball, and volleyball. She excelled in cross country, earning an opportunity to compete collegiately for Keene State College. In her freshman season with Keene State, she helped lead the cross country team to a conference championship, their 18th in school history.
At Keene State, Guinan studied nutrition and exercise science. While competing in cross country, she started gaining experience in coaching at the Summit Athletic Center, and also helped out with the Keene Middle School Cross Country team.
"I aspire to inspire." Says Guinan. "My passion for coaching was confirmed in college after Team Captain during the Covid-19 pandemic. I knew I wanted to continue this work as a coach and pursue my dream of having the best, most influential impact on athletes. The best part has been learning that each athlete has impacted my own life in their own special way."
Tallahassee State College is confident that under Coach Guinan's leadership, the women's cross country team will achieve great success in the upcoming seasons. Please join us in welcoming Kara to our community.