ANCHORAGE – University of Alaska Anchorage head ski coach Sparky Anderson announced Tuesday that the Seawolves have completed their full-time coaching staff with the additions of Andrew Kastning and Julie-Pierre Leclerc.
Kastning will take over as the Seawolves’ head Nordic coach after an impressive two-year run as an assistant at Montana State. At MSU, he helped the Bobcats to a third-place finish on the Nordic side at the 2010 NCAA Championships, including five All-America performances.
Prior to that, he served two seasons as an assistant at the University of Nevada from 2007-09, and coached with the Crested Butte Junior Nordic club team in Colorado from 2004-06. Kastning also brings four years of collegiate experience as a competitor at the University of Vermont, where he served as team captain his senior season and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 2004.
“Andrew comes to UAA with a very strong track record of success,” said Anderson, who recently became the fifth head coach in Seawolf skiing history. “I know he will be a great fit within our coaching staff and make an immediate positive impact in leading our Nordic team.”
Meanwhile, Leclerc returns to the Seawolf coaching staff after serving as a graduate and part-time assistant in the 2009 and 2010 campaigns. A four-year letterwinner and all-conference performer for UAA from 2002-05, she will be Anderson’s full-time assistant on the Alpine side.
Leclerc, who earned her bachelor’s from UAA in 2007, also brings several years of coaching experience with the Alyeska Ski Club in Girdwood.
“Having both skied and coached here, Julie brings an intimate level of knowledge with our program that is an invaluable asset,” Anderson said. “She was big factor in our success as a team when we finished fourth at NCAAs in 2009 and has a bright future in the coaching profession.
“Both Andrew and Julie are passionate about the sport and have worked their way to high levels through sacrifice and hard work. As former NCAA athletes, they both possess a depth of perspective and understanding that will help our student-athletes balance their academics and sport. I’m very excited to have both on board.”
