ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University track & field programs gained a boost in their coaching staff as Bill Sortore returns and David Brannigan starts his tenure at AU, ahead of the 2024-25 season.
 
Sortore, a long-term staple in the Alfred University cross country and track & field programs, returns to AU as one of the Assistant Coaches as well as the Recruiting Coordinator. Brannigan, having coached at Utica University, joins the Saxon staff as an Assistant Coach. "Very excited to have David Brannigan and Bill Sortore join our staff as Assistant Coaches this season," Head Coach Matt Phillips '10 said. "We welcome their expertise as we continue to build our program."
 
Sortore recently was the Assistant Coach at Houghton University, having held the position since 2019. While with the Highlanders, his focus was on all of the sprinting and jumping events. Prior to his stay at Houghton, Sortore was the Head Coach of Alfred University's cross country and track & field programs since 2008 until his departure in 2018. All of these coaching positions were held while Coach Sortore was the Physical Education Teacher at Wellsville Central School District until his retirement in 2023. He currently remains as the Swim Instructor at Wellsville Elementary.
 
Sortore is a graduate of Alfred State College in 1995, Houghton College in 1997 and earned his Master's in 2006 from Gannon University.
 
Brannigan joins the Saxons after three years of being the Utica University Track & Field Athletic Assistant. During his time with the Pioneers, he coached six Empire 8 high jump champions, 12 All-Atlantic Regional Track & Field Conference (AARTFC) qualifiers and one NCAA Division III National Qualifier. Brannigan also helped the Pioneers to two Empire 8 Conference Team Championship titles and his athletes broke three school records.
 
Just prior to coaching at Utica, Brannigan was a Special Education Teaching Assistant and Track & Field Assistant Coach at Irondequoit High School since November of 2020. He also saw employment stints at Our Lady of Mercy, School for Young Women in Rochester, NY as the Varsity Assistant Coach, North Rose-Wolcott Central School District as the Head Coach for Grades 7-12 and worked in the Town of Webster Parks & Recreation Department.
 
Coach Brannigan graduated from SUNY Brockport in December of 2020 before earning his MBA at Utica University in May of 2024.
 
Coach Sortore and Coach Brannigan join the coaching staff of Phillips, Assistant Head Coach Sierra Wilson '22, Assistant Coach Dr. Angie Taylor, Graduate Assistant Coach Kevin Flint '24, Graduate Assistant Coach Emma Anderson and Volunteer Assistant Coach Chris Boswell, bringing the coaching staff total to eight.