Aug. 23, 2018
San Jose, Calif. ----- Kendra Reimer-Gonzales, honored six times by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for her coaching success, has been named San José State University's new Director of Track and Field and Cross Country. Marie Tuite, the Spartans' director of athletics, made the announcement.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Reimer-Gonzales to the Spartans' family," Tuite said. "She is one of the rising stars in track and field and cross country coaching. She was an exceptional student-athlete and is keenly aware of what is necessary to compete at the highest level. Her expertise will enhance of track and field and our cross country programs."
Reimer-Gonzales spent the past four seasons (2015-18) as the head coach of women's cross country and track and field at San Francisco State, and joins the Spartans following her team's 2018 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women's track and field championship, the first in program history.
"I'd like to thank President Mary Papazian, Director of Athletics Marie Tuite and the committee for this great opportunity," Reimer-Gonzales said. "San José State Track and Field is one of the most storied programs in our sports history and the cross country teams are on the rise. I am both honored and motivated by the rich history of the program and the direction that we are going with women's program and the reinstatement of the men's program this fall."
In 2017 and 2018, she was named CCAA Track and Field Head Coach of the Year and four-times, in 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2018, she earned United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) West Region Outdoor Head Coach of the Year honors. In 2018, Reimer-Gonzales was also named the USTFCCCA West Region Indoor Head Coach of the Year and in 2009 was a USTFCCCA Assistant Coach of the Year Award recipient.
Her 2018 Gators' team placed tenth at the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships where eight Gators were named first-team All-Americans. The team started the season ranked number-one in the nation and remained in the top-10 through out the year. Her athletes earned 15 All-CCAA honors and 11 times were event winners.
In 2017, the Gators' women's 4x400 relay team won the NCAA Division II championship, the first in any sport at San Francisco State. Reimer-Gonzales coached the CCAA Freshman of the Year and led the team to a second-place finish in the conference. Eight student-athletes advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships where the team finished in 16th place.
In four years at San Francisco State, her athletes garnered 18 first-team and five second-team All-America honors, set 17 school records and appeared on the program's all-time top-10 lists 68 times. She coached 17 individual conference champions.
From 2010-13, Reimer-Gonzales was the head women and men's track and field coach at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, an NCAA Division III institution in Claremont, California. In four seasons, she guided her women and men's teams to a combined 104-12 dual meet record and won four SCIAC championships, while coaching nine All-Americans, including Reny Colton, the sixth-best triple jumper in NCAA Division III history. Reimer-Gonzales mentored nine All-Americans, 35 individual conference champions, 153 All-SCIAC honorees, and 13 school records were set during her tenure.
From 2006 through 2010, Reimer-Gonzales was an assistant at Cal State Los Angeles (2006-2009) and Brown University (2009-2010). At both stops, she assisted in the development of 22 NCAA qualifiers, nine conference champions and 19 all-conference honorees.
"Our foundation will be built on strong personal character and being active community members who are laser focused on winning championships," Reimer-Gonzales said. "It's an amazing time to be part of a growing San José State track and field program and where Speed City once reigned."
As a collegian, Reimer-Gonzales attended and competed for Texas A&M. She was an All-American in the heptathlon and upon graduation held the school record in the pentathlon. She competed in the 2004 USA Olympic Trials in the heptathlon placing 11th.
She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology, and then a master's degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M. Reimer-Gonzales is a USATF Level II coach in the sprints, jumps, distance, and combined events.