Yale Athletics

In May 2024, David Shoehalter, Yale’s previous Director of Cross Country and Track and Field, announced his unexpected retirement after the conclusion of the 2023-24 track and field season. He had held the position for 14 years and had been at Yale for 30. 

After a national search, spearheaded by Yale Athletics Director Victoria Chun, Courtney Jaworski, former Smith College director of cross country and head track and field coach, was awarded the position. 

His arrival at Yale was announced quickly, only two weeks after Shoehalter’s retirement, making him the third individual to hold the role.   

As director, Jaworski has the ability to change any of the coaches that report to him, including assistant coaches for distance, sprints, jumps and field events. 

Jaworski changed nearly the entire cross country and track and field coaching staff.

“I’d say a lot of guys were thrown out of the blue with the distance coaching position change, but we all really love the new coach, Kyle Basista. He’s a great guy, and we couldn’t have asked for a better coach, so we’re all really happy to have him” said Kenan Pala ’26, a distance runner on the team. 

Jaworski’s recruitment to Yale comes after his success in previous roles at Smith College and Dartmouth College. 

In 2014, he began at Dartmouth, where he coached the team to three NCAA Division I Cross Country championships, one of which was in his first year, awarding him the 2014 Ivy League Cross Country Coach of the Year distinction.  

In 2021, Jaworski accepted the role as Smith College Pioneers’ Director of Cross Country. The Pioneers quickly succeeded under his new leadership, qualifying for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in 2021 and 2022, their first back-to-back qualification since 1987-1990.   

Jaworski aided in athletes’ individual success as well. He led Laurel Kruger, Smith College ’23, to first in the 5k and 10k at the 2022 NEWMAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, where he was also named the 2022 NEWMAC Coach of the Year.  

Though Jaworski presents a great opportunity for the Bulldogs to grow in the upcoming season, some athletes are still adjusting to the surprise that came with Shoehalter’s retirement. 

 “Obviously the coaching change was out of the blue, but the guys are still pretty optimistic,” said Pala. 

The only coach previously employed by Yale to return is Duke Taylor, assistant coach for both teams’ throwing events.  

Charlie Williams ’26, a thrower on the women’s track and field team, told the News that she was “excited and appreciative” that Taylor was able to continue as the team’s throws coach.  

The rest of the team faced the challenges brought on by the staffing change with creativity and maturity. Although season practices officially began Aug. 27, the men’s distance team organized their own preseason training regimen before returning to campus. Without having met the new coaches, the Bulldogs were already putting in the work.  

Kyle Basista, head coach of men’s cross country and assistant coach of men’s track and field, joins Yale as an eight-time USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year at John Carroll University where he coached two national champions, six All-Americans, 11 national qualifiers, and 57 all-region honorees during his 15 years at John Carroll.  

Basista’s approach maintains much of the Bulldogs’ previous training routine but emphasizes higher mileage and weight training which may be advantageous to the team looking towards this season.  

The opportunities presented by the new staff and the growing success of the athletes over the years suggest a promising season. The men’s team hopes to place top three at the Ivy Heptagonal Championships this year on Nov. 2, having placed fifth in 2022 and fourth in 2023. The women’s team shares a similar enthusiasm, having placed sixth in the Ivy Championships last season. 

“I am super excited about the team this year. We have so much depth, and we will be able to work together which is always the best part of cross country,” said Kylie Goldfarb ’25, captain of the women’s cross country team.  

The Bulldogs will take on Harvard in Boston on Sept. 6 as their season opener.