Kevin Alessandro

Head Cross Country Coach/Distance Runners Coach

Coach Alessandro is a native of Ft. Thomas, KY, a 1998 graduate of Highlands High School and a 2002 graduate of Northern Kentucky University, where he earned a degree in Speech Communication and a minor in Marketing. While a student-athlete at Northern Kentucky University, Alessandro produced 3 All Great Lakes Valley Conference track performances. Alessandro also helped establish a competitive club level track and field program while at NKU.

In 2007, he began the process of creating the upstart NCAA DIII cross country program at Spalding University and since then, Spalding has caught the attention of many as one of the fastest growing collegiate programs in the region. As a post-collegian, Alessandro also serves as the team manager for a Louisville based Elite Development Program that is sponsored by the Brooks running brand. Alessandro has extensive experience advising individual athletes with different aspects of training, and is the owner/operator of www.coachkevin.net; A website offering distance running coaching services to people of all ages and abilities. As an athlete, Alessandro’s career highlight to date has been his 2nd place finish in the 2007 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon. He has participated in six marathons since 2005. (Austin, Columbus, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York and Boston).

Alessandro currently resides in Louisville, KY with his wife Jen and works as a development professional as Manager of Alumni Relations for Spalding University. He also works part-time at Pacers and Racers running/walking store in New Albany, IN. His background and career experience in resource development and sales will help him to provide resources to compliment his coaching services.

Reid Ellis

Assistant Coach

The athletes know him as Coach Reid, a 2001 graduate of Mountain View High School (Tucson, AZ) and 2006 graduate of Adams State College brings many years of running experience to the Spalding University Cross Country program. While a collegiate student athlete, Ellis produced 3 NCAA Division II All-American honors as well as a national title in the DMR on the track and numerous top NCAA DII team finishes in cross country.

Coach Ellis works as a career firefighter with the Louisville Fire Department at Engine Company 12. Ellis moved to Louisville in June of 2006 and joined Spalding July of 2008. Coach Ellis’s experience and enthusiasm for distance running will prove to be an asset in developing Spalding University’s cross country programs.

Carrie Leimberger Emerson

Assistant Cross Country Coach

Carrie Leimberger Emerson is a 2003 graduate of Franklin Central High School (Indianapolis, IN) and a 2008 graduate of the University of Southern Indiana (Evansville, IN). She holds a Bachelors degree from USI in Social Work and a minor in Psychology and is currently a student in the Spalding University Nursing program.

As an athlete, Carrie was a NCAA DII national qualifier in cross country and on the track & field in the 3000m steeplechase. She has a PR of 4:43 for the 1500m and 11:11 for the steeple. She lives in Southern Indiana with her husband, Bryan Emerson.