Harvey Resigns Women’s Cross Country, Distance Coaching Post

Decorated veteran cites desire to leave the coaching profession.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – After seven-plus seasons at the helm of Florida State’s nationally-recognized women’s cross country and distance program, coach Karen Harvey has resigned, citing her desire to leave the profession.

“We respect coach Harvey’s decision and she has left the program in great position,” Florida State track & field head coach Bob Braman said. “Our focus now is on our current women’s distance athletes, including NCAA Indoor national qualifiers Colleen Quigley and the distance medley relay team, as well as those future Seminoles.”

Harvey built the Seminoles’ cross country program into a national and conference power, while continually turning out All-Americans on the track.  Florida State’s cross country teams qualified for the NCAA Championships in each of her eight seasons, finishing in the top four six times. The program won six NCAA South Region and Atlantic Coast Conference team championships and produced 18 All-Americans. Harvey was named ACC Cross Country Coach of the Year seven times and South Region Coach of the Year six times.

Since the start of the 2008 indoor track season, FSU runners under Harvey’s direction earned 29 All-American honors and won 25 ACC titles on the track, including victories by the distance medley relay and Colleen Quigley in the mile at last weekend’s conference indoor championship meet.

“Coach Harvey made great contributions over eight cross country and seven track & field seasons, and has raised the bar to a level where we were nowhere near before she got here,” Braman said. “It’s our goal to maintain that level of excellence in the program. We’ve got a plan in place to keep the continuity of the program moving forward and upward.”

In the short term, former Florida State head track & field coach Terry Long, currently in his fourth season as a volunteer assistant working with Harvey, will have an expanded role. Josh Seitz, who has served in a variety of capacities with the women’s distance program over the past two years, will step into a coaching capacity as well. Volunteer assistant coach Ashley Botham will continue her duties with the women’s distance group as well.

Braman said he and school administrators will begin a nationwide search for a successor who will have all the resources necessary to continue the program’s comprehensive record of excellence in both women’s cross country and distance running.