Adrien Ricci is in her second season as an assistant coach for Lewis cross country and track and field teams.

In her role as an assistant coach, Ricci mentors the cross country teams and the middle and long distance events in track. Ricci also is involved in recruiting.

Ricci came to Lewis after serving two years as assistant women's cross country and track and field coach at Smith College in Northampton, Mass., where she worked under the direction of Ellen O'Neil, former head coach at Dartmouth College.

While under O'Neil's guidance at Smith, Ricci assisted in all aspects of the cross country and track programs, helping to coach seven distance athletes to all-conference status, including one who was a two-time national qualifier in cross country and once in the 3000-meter steeplechase in outdoor track. Eleven athletes earned academic all-conference while Ricci was at Smith.

Ricci earned her bachelor's degree with a double major in business administration and professional communication from Elmhurst College in 2003. She completed her master's degree in exercise and sport studies from Smith College in 2007.

An NCAA Division III All-American in cross country, Ricci was a four-year varsity letter winner of both Elmhurst College's cross country and track and field teams. She competed at both the Drake and Penn Relays, was a 13-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin All-Conference honoree, a seven-time Division III national qualifier and a two-time cross country Midwest All-Region honoree.

Ricci holds the Elmhurst school record for the 10,000-meter run and was a member of the school's record-setting 4x mile relay team. She also served as captain to both the cross country and track teams in her final year at Elmhurst.

Ricci is a member of USA Track and Field and has a Level I coaching certification.