SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Eric Pfalzgraf has been named the new head coach of the Union College men's and women's cross country and track & field teams, Director of Athletics Jim McLaughlin '93 announced on Friday.
 
"I'm thrilled and honored to be stepping into the head coaching position for the cross country and track & field teams at Union College," Pfalzgraf said. "Union is a special place that emphasizes the importance of commitment with balance, of excellence with joy; I'm so grateful to Jim McLaughlin, Erin Zannella and the rest of the Union Athletic Department for seeing those values reflected in me and trusting me with this tremendous opportunity to begin my head coaching career."
 
"We are happy to welcome Eric into the Union family as our next cross country and track & field coach," McLaughlin said. "The passion for and commitment to his student-athletes came across clearly during the interview process and will make him a welcome addition to our department. Eric's energy will help to maintain and expand on the great successes of our cross country and track programs over the last few seasons."
 
Pfalzgraf comes to Schenectady after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the women's cross country and track & field teams at Smith College. In his two years with the programs, Pioneer student-athletes combined to earn one USTFCCCA All-America honor and 14 USTFCCCA All-Region recognitions, while also earning five individual NCAA Championship appearances and one New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) individual title. In his role, Pfalzgraf programmed training and practice plans for the team's distance, jumps and multis competitors.
 
While coaching and earning his graduate degree, Pfalzgraf also served as a teaching fellow at the College and both instructed and assisted teaching of several undergraduate classes in the Exercise and Sports Science department. In addition, he has three years of experience in the Office of Alumni Relations and Development at Smith and previously served in development roles with Massachusetts General Hospital, Back on My Feet, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
 
Prior to his time at Smith, Pfalzgraf spent three years as the head cross country and track & field coach at Northampton High School, helping the Blue Devils to nearly 40 Nike Nationals individual qualifications and a trio of outdoor Western Massachusetts titles.
 
Pfalzgraf earned a bachelor's of science from Northeastern University in 2016 and a master's of science in exercise and sport studies from Smith in 2026.
 
He takes over a program that has made huge strides forward over the last five years, earning nine individual NCAA Championship qualifiers as well as multiple USTFCCCA All-America and All-Region honors in both track & field and cross country.
 
"The programs are at such an exciting place in time and it is a privilege to continue the momentum that's been built by the coaches who have been here before me," Pfalzgraf continued. "I want to honor the legacy of the programs while developing new opportunities for student-athletes to grow as competitors and well-rounded human beings. I cannot wait to dive into this first year, continue to learn as much as I can from this passionate team and staff, and be a part of Union's special tradition."