Women's Outdoor Track & Field
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Phone:
- (203) 582-5320
Steve Belanger enters his seventh year with the Bobcats women’s program as an assistant coach for the 2017-18 season. Belanger works closely with the Bobcats’ women’s track and field programs specifically in the development of the sprinters, jumpers, hurdlers and throwers while he also assists with the women’s cross country program.
Belanger helped guide Jessica Lee to one of the greatest individual seasons put forth by a Quinnipiac student-athlete in school history in 2016-17. He helped guide Lee who captured 11 event victories combined through the indoor and outdoor seasons, was named the MAAC’s Most Outstanding Performer at the Indoor Championships, stunned the field with a third place finish at the Penn Relays, captured two ECAC titles (60m hurdles, 100m hurdles), defended her New England 60m hurdle title and became just the third Bobcat (first hurdler) to complete at the NCAA Regionals in the outdoor season.
The 2015-16 season was a banner year for Belanger’s sprinters as the group reached unparalleled heights. At the MAAC indoor championship, Shameal Samuels picked up victories in the 200m and 400m events while Jessica Lee earned the 60m hurdles title. Lee then went on to become the first Bobcat hurdler to take a New England title in program history as she won the 60m hurdles crown. The success continued into the outdoor season as Quinnipiac defended their 4x100m relay MAAC title while Samuels won the 200m, Nia Baker took the 400m victory and the Bobcats won their first 4x400m relay conference title. Samuels made history at the ECAC outdoor championships as she became the first Bobcat to win an event, taking the 400m crown. Lee also took second in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m relay took sixth place, leading the Bobcats to their highest finish (T13th out of 105 teams) and most points (23) at the ECAC Championships in program history. Samuels later advanced to the NCAA East Regionals in the 400m for the second straight season, becoming just the second Bobcat to advance to multiple NCAA Regionals.
The 2014-15 season was another successful campaign as Belanger's focus with the team's sprinters took a major step forward. At the 2015 MAAC indoor championships, Samuels swept all three sprint events (100m, 200m, 400m) on her way to earning the MAAC Most Outstanding Women's Track Performer, the first Bobcat to ever take home the MAAC's highest individual honor. Samuels went on to break a 27-year-old meet record on her way to capturing her second straight New England 400m Championship. In the outdoor season, Belanger guided Samuels to the NCAA East Regionals in Jacksonville, Fla. where she became the first sprinter and just the second Bobcat in program history to compete at an NCAA Regional event.
In his first year as the Bobcats sprints and jumps coach Belanger guided the sprinters to breaking 11 school records between the Indoor and Outdoor seasons. The Bobcats took a huge leap forward in 2012-13 as they recorded an astonishing 47 record-breaking events between the indoor and outdoor track seasons. That progression continued into 2013-14 as the Bobcats finished with their first-ever New England Individual and Relay Championships as well as the first MAAC Champion in program history.
Belanger is a USA Track & Field Sprints/Hurdles/Relays Level 2 certified coach
Prior to coming to Quinnipiac, Belanger was the head coach for the indoor track and field team at Newington High School. While at Newington, he worked with over 100 athletes and developing several conference champions and two all-state jumpers. Before starting his coaching career Belanger competed for Central Connecticut State University where he earned All-New England honors in 2008.
In addition to 10 years of track experience, Belanger also worked as a volunteer firefighter between 2008 and 2010 for the town of Newington and is a State Certified Firefighter.
Belanger received a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology with a specialization in Environmental and Occupational Safety in December of 2010 from Central Connecticut State University. He also earned Connecticut State Coaching Certification prior to his arrival in Hamden.
Belanger currently resides in Meriden, Connecticut with his wife Kristina.
