BRONXVILLE, N.Y. — Sarah Lawrence College Athletics has announced the hiring of Rachel Rose as the new head coach of the men's and women's cross country programs. Rose will lead the Gryphons beginning with the 2026 season.

Rose brings a strong background in collegiate athletics, science education, and student development to Sarah Lawrence. A 2023 graduate of Ithaca College, Rose competed for four years on the Bombers' women's cross country and track & field teams and served as team captain from 2021-23.

"We are thrilled to welcome Rachel Rose to the Gryphons family," said Director of Athletics Kristin Maile. "With proven Division III experience and a strong commitment to academic excellence, Rachel is the ideal leader to build on our championship season and continue developing our student-athletes both on the course and in the classroom."

During her collegiate cross country career, Rose earned Liberty League All-Academic honors three times and was named to the All-Liberty League Second Team in 2021 after placing 12th at the conference championships. Her collegiate personal bests include 15:10.8 in the 4K, 21:04.1 in the 5K, and 23:35.2 in the 6K.

Rose also enjoyed a decorated four-year career in track & field. She earned second-team Liberty League honors in the distance medley relay (DMR) and set a meet record with a time of 12:30.20 during her rookie season. As a sophomore, Rose was named to the USTFCCCA Indoor All-Region Team in the 800-meter run and 4x400-meter relay. She also earned Liberty League Honorable Mention recognition for her 4x400 performance and was named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team.

In her final two seasons, Rose earned additional USTFCCCA Indoor All-Region honors for her DMR performances and was named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team. During her senior season, she also earned Liberty League Indoor Second-Team recognition for her 4x400-meter relay finish.

A native of East Meadow, N.Y., Rose graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, summa cum laude, while also studying psychology and neuroscience. She continued her education at Columbia University Teachers College, where she earned a Master of Arts in Teaching Biology (7-12) in 2024, with a focus on mathematics, science, and technology.

Rose currently serves as a science teacher at West Prep Academy, where she designs and implements curriculum for sixth-grade students. As department lead, she also collaborates with fellow science educators to develop curriculum scope and sequence across all grade levels. Additionally, she is pursuing continuing education to become a Nest-certified teacher, further expanding her ability to support students with autism.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Rose continues to collaborate with New York University on a Justice-Centered STEM Education research project that integrates multiple scientific disciplines to address real-world challenges in middle school education.

Before joining West Prep Academy, Rose taught at Urban Assembly for Green Careers, Bay Ridge Upper Preparatory School, and Robert F. Wagner Middle School.