Women’s basketball assistant coach Michelle Simonson will assume the role of head cross country coach in November. She joined the program in August as the assistant and will utilize her experience in strength training and conditioning to enhance the program.

Simonson graduated from Peace College in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and earned an associate's degree in 2004. She works full time as a field biologist for the North Carolina Division of Water Quality but maintains close ties to the Peace community. In addition to her role with the Pacers, Simonson led expedition classes on backpacking the Appalachian Trail and mentored water quality student research projects through the biology department.

While at Peace, Simonson earned numerous honors within both the academic and athletic communities. She was named the 2006 Outstanding Graduate and received the year's Outstanding Senior Award. She was a four-year member of the basketball team, serving as captain her senior season. Simonson earned the athletic department's prestigious Frazier Cup, awarded annually to the individual who best exemplifies the characteristics of a student-athlete. Additionally, Simonson was presented the Scholar Athlete Award and was named the basketball team’s Defensive Player of the Year.

She fit thousands of individuals in running shoes as a fit-specialist with New Balance, served as a volunteer coach for several community 5K road and trail programs, and remains an avid runner herself completing her first marathon in January 2010.  Her favorite race was the Ragnar Relay, where she competed on a 12-person team alternating miles to run a total of 200 miles from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, D.C.

A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Simonson currently resides in Raleigh.  She enjoys training for endurance runs in Vibram FiveFingers, backpacking, traveling, playing the guitar, and reconnecting with her Peace family.