Pitt-Greensburg names Kelsey Oddis as cross country coach

Kelsey Oddis was a two-sport standout during her undergraduate days at Pitt-Greensburg, excelling in both cross country and basketball with the Bobcats.

Now, she will have multiple coaching titles at her collegiate alma mater.

Already a women’s basketball assistant at UPG, the Burrell graduate will take over the school’s men’s and women’s running programs, the university announced Wednesday.

Oddis said she is excited and ready for the additional coaching responsibility.

“I love being a part of the university through my time as a student and an athlete to now working as a coach,” she said.

“When this (cross country coaching) opportunity came up, I knew I couldn’t pass it.”

Oddis said it will be another good learning experience as she also takes on the administrative duties that come with being a head coach.

When Oddis was at Burrell, cross country wasn’t one of the sports offered. But when she arrived at Pitt-Greensburg, she took notice of the chance to run competitively.

Oddis was an all-conference performer in cross country for the Bobcats. She posted top-10 finishes at the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference finals as a freshman and sophomore.

She won the Westmoreland County Community College Invitational in 2016.

Oddis said she’s looks forward to getting to work with both squads.

“It will be good to get out and recruit for cross country to build the teams up using my resources throughout the county and the high schools I know,” she said.

There will be limited conflict for Oddis between the seasons. The cross country campaign concludes at the end of October, just a week or two after preseason basketball practices begin. But the women’s basketball team won’t begin its schedule of games until the second week of November.

Oddis understands that dynamic as she was able to negotiate that transition as an athlete.

“Kelsey is a high-character, hard-working, dedicated coach,” Bobcats women’s basketball coach Hayley Schaetzle said.

“It’s a win-win for our athletic department. With the seasons not overlapping, she can have a direct and positive impact on the lives of more student-athletes.”

Oddis is the seventh-leading scorer in women’s basketball history at the school with 1,203 points.

She was a two-time all-conference player. As a senior for the 2017-18 season, she averaged 19.4 points.

She is fourth all-time in rebounds (667) and rebounds per game (6.3) and fifth in career scoring (13.4 ppg).

Just three months after completing her basketball playing career under the then first-year coach, Oddis joined Schaetzle’s staff.

“Kelsey was a phenomenal leader as a senior captain, and with her being fully bought in on our game plan and into our culture, understanding our offenses and defenses, along with her work ethic, there was no doubt she would do a great job as a coach,” Schaetzle said.

“She did such a great job handling all of those coaching responsibilities in her first year. I am excited to have her for year two.”

Local basketball fans will remember Oddis as a four-year letterwinner and a three-year starter at Burrell. She was a member of back-to-back undefeated section teams, and she helped the 2013-14 Bucs squad to a WPIAL runner-up finish and an spot in the PIAA semifinals.