Michael McGrane

"Every athlete is unique and what works for one person may not work for another. I do my best to individualize the coaching while training together as one team, men and women alike. They are all runners trying to become better athletes."

Under the steadfast leadership of Coach Michael McGrane, Norwich University women’s cross country team has quickly risen in the GNAC Conference standings. McGrane has infused unprecedented levels of success – both athletically and academically – within the program.

Under Coach McGrane’s dynamic leadership, he expertly showcased the expansive 1,200-acre campus of Norwich University like never before. Demonstrating initiative and vision, he successfully brought the Norwich Cadets Invitational to campus, snapping a 24-year hiatus of home contests. In another Norwich first, Norwich hosted the GNAC Conference Championship races for both men and women on campus in 2024.

Coach Highlights

• Led three GNAC Rookie of the Year winners since 2021
• Multiple athletes earned GNAC All-Conference recognition
• Numerous runners received GNAC academic recognition
• USATF Level 1 and Cross Country Specialist Certified

Remarkable Achievements

Team Success

The transformation that has occurred within the program is truly extraordinary.

• 2024: Hosted GNAC Conference Championships on campus
• Continuous rising GNAC Conference standings
• Strong academic and athletic performance

Individual Athlete Highlights

• 2024: Delaney Whitmarsh '27 - GNAC Rookie of the Year
• 2023: Cece Winters '26 - GNAC Rookie of the Year
• 2021: India Jones '24 - GNAC Rookie of the Year, first under McGrane's guidance

National and Olympic-Level Expertise

Coach McGrane brings extensive experience beyond collegiate athletics.

Coached Boston Athletic Association Qualifiers for 2020 Olympic Marathon Team Trials

Packed with years of robust coaching experience, McGrane is a seasoned veteran in the sport, training not just collegiate athletes, but also high-performing post-collegiate athletes. His expertise helped propel many individuals to success in regional and national races. A career highlight was being a part of the staff which helped a record number of club qualifiers, representing the Boston Athletic Association, at the 2020 Olympic Marathon Team Trials in Atlanta.

Mentored National Track and Field Competitors

McGrane’s knack for producing champions extends to middle-distance runners who have qualified for the prestigious U.S. National Track and Field competitions, as well as mentoring top-age division runners in local and national competitions. Demonstrating his dedication to the sport, he holds a USATF Level 1 and Cross Country Specialist coaching certifications, along with multiple event-specific certifications from the Track and Field Academy.

Q&A with Head Coach McGrane

What brought you to becoming a coach for your sport?

While I have been coaching for many years, I started later in my life coaching at the collegiate level. I was a DIII collegiate student-athlete participating in cross country and, indoor and outdoor track and field for four years. The experience shaped my life and defined me as a runner today. I want to share my passion for running and racing as a college cross country and track coach where I can educate and inspire a new generation of runners.

What excites you about cross country?

Running, and specifically cross country as a sport, is very unique compared to other team sports. I tell the cross-country athletes that they all have an opportunity to compete each week. No one sits on the bench hoping for playing time. And every opportunity to race is a chance to become a better runner, a better athlete, and to learn about yourself. It's you against time, the cross country course, and oftentimes an opponent. To witness cross-country runners in a battle of willpower overcoming adversity and discovering what they are capable of accomplishing during a race is a beautiful thing to witness.

What do you enjoy about working with student-athletes?

I really enjoy the process of helping runners learn to become better athletes and to run faster than they thought they could by the end of the season. It's a journey from the first day of the season, or the first year on the team, to the final race of their collegiate career. I want to be part of their journey to personal achievement in running and fulfillment as a varsity sport cross-country runner at Norwich.

What do you like about coaching at Norwich?

Coaching cross country at Norwich is unlike any other NCAA DIII college program with both military and civilian team members. While it is a challenge to coach cross-country teams with so many pulls in opposite directions, it is also enjoyable to have the privilege to coach young people from all walks of life with interests beyond academics and running. It is an experience for me as much as it is for them.

Why is Norwich a great place for student-athletes?

The first thing that I noticed about the cross-country team roster is that the Norwich students represent people from all across the United States as well as other countries. The diversity of people and differences of where the students come from is a great benefit to learning about other lifestyles, different cultures, and points of view, as well as to recognize similarities and likeness. As student-athletes, they become one team and share togetherness during their time here at Norwich and beyond.

What is your approach to coaching?

Every athlete is an experiment of one. My coaching philosophy is to recognize that every athlete is unique and what works for one person may not work for another. I do my best to individualize the coaching while training together as one team, men and women alike. They are all runners trying to become better athletes.

What is Norwich’s approach to athletics, training, and being on a team?

The Norwich approach to athletics reflects the Norwich motto, "I Will Try." When faced with adversity, the Norwich athletes strive to give their best effort, see it through to the end, and respectfully accept the outcome - for better or worse. And then we try again.

If you want to be the best, you need to be coached and trained by the best. At Norwich University, you clearly will be.