SELINSGROVE, PA – Longtime Susquehanna University track & field throws coach and alumnus
Cris Delbaugh '91 has announced his retirement after 33 years of service to the university. Delbaugh joined the coaching staff in 1991 under his former coach and SU Hall of Famer Jim Taylor, producing two national champions, 18 NCAA All-Americans, 24 national qualifiers, and 98 conference champions between shot put, weight throw, hammer throw, and javelin.
"On behalf of the Susquehanna Track and Field Community we would like to thank Coach Delb's for all his hard work and dedication to the Crusader and River Hawk Family," said Head Coach
Ethan Senecal. "His devotion to the sport and University are unprecedented and he will be missed greatly. Cris has been an integral part of my time here at SU and a big reason for our recent success. He is not only a colleague, but a great friend and I wish him the best of luck as he enters the next chapter of his life."
"I've always felt blessed with my luck to have coached SU track and field for all these years," related Delbaugh. "The combination of team, family and hard work has always been the base of this magical trip I've been on. To have been blessed with the caliber of athletes I've had over the years has been more than gratifying. I will be forever grateful to Jim Taylor, Marty Owens and
Ethan Senecal. Without their leadership, my career would never have been so complete. I also will always be thankful for the lifelong friends I've have made thru the years."
Delbaugh made the short hop to the Selinsgrove campus in fall of 1987 after a standout throwing career at Lewisburg Area High School in Lewisburg, Pa., where he was an All-State shot putter. As a Crusader Delbaugh was a three-time letter winner and graduated as the school record holder in both the indoor and outdoor shot put, which today remain the eighth and fourth best marks, respectively. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications in 1991.
He completes his coaching run in unprecedented fashion, mentoring the 2022-23 squad that swept the men's and women's Landmark Conference indoor and outdoor team championships, with the women obtaining their first-ever outdoor conference title. Delbaugh and the staff were named the Landmark's Coaching Staff of the Year for men's indoor and men's and women's outdoor. Along the way Delbaugh weathered many significant transformations, including three head coaches, the school's move from the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) to the Landmark Conference, and the changing of the mascot from Crusaders to River Hawks. While his loyalty will never be questioned, Delbaugh still considers himself a "Crusader for Life," as indicated by his bicep tattoo.
The lifelong 570 resident continues to reside in Lewisburg with his wife Bobbi, where they raised their two children, daughter Taylor, a 2019 SU alumnus, and son Trey. He is a grandfather of two and works as a supervisor for UPS. He plans to spend more time with his new grandchildren and on the river as he is an avid fisherman.
In total, Delbaugh has given 37 years to Susquehanna University dating back to 1987. In that span SU gathered the following:
- MAC Team Championships (1987-07)
- Women's Indoor: 1995
- Men's Outdoor: 1988, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2005
- Landmark Conference Team Championships (2007-Present)
- Men's Indoor: 2009, 2022, 2023
- Women's Indoor: 2022, 2023
- Men's Outdoor: 2014, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Women's Outdoor: 2023
- Shot Put Conference Champions (Since 1991-92)
- Elizabeth Nicodemus: MAC Outdoor ('93)
- Becky Ritchie: MAC Indoor ('96)
- Frank Arenella: MAC Outdoor ('97)
- Mike Shaffer: MAC Indoor ('02)
- Matt Hill: MAC Outdoor ('04)
- Ashley Mooreman: Landmark Outdoor ('08)
- Madeline Hals: Landmark Outdoor ('10)
- Ken Schetroma: Landmark Indoor ('11, '12, '13); Landmark Outdoor ('10, '11, '12, '13)
- Tom Schetroma: Landmark Indoor ('14, '16); Landmark Outdoor ('14)
- Cameron Weaver: Landmark Indoor ('14, '15); Landmark Outdoor ('14, '15)
- Renea Broscious: Landmark Indoor ('16)
- Maggie Boyer: Landmark Indoor ('23); Landmark Outdoor ('21, '22)
- Weight Throw Conference Champions (Since 1991-92)
- Matt Hill: MAC Indoor ('04, '05); MAC Outdoor ('04)
- Caitlin Anderson: Landmark Indoor ('10, '11)
- Ken Schetroma: Landmark Indoor ('11, '12, '13)
- Jessica Ranck: Landmark Indoor ('12)
- Kristen Blair: Landmark Indoor ('20)
- Maggie Boyer: Landmark Indoor ('23)
- Hammer Throw Conference Champions (Since 1991-92)
- Matt Hill: MAC Outdoor ('04, '05)
- Ashley Mooreman: Landmark Outdoor ('08)
- Caitlin Anderson: Landmark Outdoor ('10, '11)
- Ken Schetroma: Landmark Outdoor ('11, '12, '13)
- Seth Landgraf: Landmark Outdoor ('14)
- Dylan Heisey: Landmark Outdoor ('19)
- Kristen Blair: Landmark Outdoor ('21)
- Maggie Boyer: Landmark Outdoor ('23)
- Javelin Conference Champions (Since 1991-92)
- Matt Menold: MAC Outdoor ('98)
- Janee Shaner: MAC Outdoor ('98, NCAA National Champion)
- Adam Ressler: MAC Outdoor ('00, NCAA National Champion)
- Matt Deamer: MAC Outdoor ('02, '03)
- Ian Horton: MAC Outdoor ('05)
- Braden Klingler: Landmark Outdoor ('10)
- Claudia Bartoli: Landmark Outdoor ('12)
- Jared Minori: Landmark Outdoor ('12, '13, '14, '16)
- Gabby Alguire: Landmark Outdoor ('14, '15, '16, '17)
- Alexander Messick: Landmark Outdoor ('15)
- Robert Marks: Landmark Outdoor ('19)
- Curtis Anthony: Landmark Outdoor ('21)
