RMU Athletics announces revival of men’s cross country team

Robert+Morris+has+reinstated+the+mens+cross+country+program+after+it+was+cut+in+2013.+Photo+Credit%3A+RMU+Athletics

Robert Morris has reinstated the men’s cross country program after it was cut in 2013. Photo Credit: RMU Athletics

Adam Melluso

MOON TOWNSHIP– The Robert Morris Department of Athletics announced Friday the reinstatement of its men’s cross country program for the upcoming 2021 Horizon League season.

This marks not only the addition of a 17th sport to the Division I program, but also it’s first fielding of the men’s team since the end of the 2013-14 season, which saw Robert Morris cut seven sports teams including tennis, men’s indoor and outdoor track and field, women’s golf, and field hockey. One of those programs, women’s cross country, has been brought back.

The men’s cross country team will be coached by current women’s team head coach Bryan Delsite. Delsite, who is a native of Elysburg, Pennsylvania, spent the prior seven seasons as an assistant coach for the Bucknell Bison, coaching 34 All-Patriot League performers and leading the team to five women’s Patriot League championships from 2014-2019. Delsite was named head coach of the women’s team this summer after Caitlin Cotter stepped down.

Delsite also served as the head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country and track and field programs at nearby Duquesne University from 1998-2013. He is a 1993 graduate of Syracuse University and earned his master’s at RMU in 1996. He spent time as the assistant coach of the men’s team at RMU from 1994-96.

During the team’s previous tenure, the RMU men’s cross country team won the ECAC Metro Conference championships in 1986 and 1987, finished in the top five at the NEC Championship 14 times, and had 11 of its members receive All-NEC accolades 15 times from 1986-2013.

Stay tuned to colonialsportsnetwork.com and follow @RMU_CSN on Twitter for all the latest cross country news as the team is brought back to life and the schedule comes closer to being released, as well as to keep up with everything going on in the world of Colonial athletics.