Longtime Assistant Director of Track and Field Barbara Hartwig is set to retire from her position at the University at the end of the month, ending a successful 34-year run as a member of the Yellowjackets cross country and track & field coaching staff. Her final day on the job is set for June 30.
 
"I am very appreciative of the University of Rochester and the athletics department," reflects Hartwig. "I've seen many changes over 34 years, but the one thing that remained constant was the quality of student-athletes I had the pleasure of working with and for – great athletes and even better human beings!"
 
"The same can be said about my colleagues," she continues. "No one gets anywhere without the help of others and I appreciate all of the support I received from the administrators, coaching staff, support staff, janitorial and grounds crews and all of the other people and offices across the campus. I know I haven't said "thank you" enough to everyone here!  I hope you will all appreciate what you have today – It wasn't always that way. Best wishes to everyone at Rochester and I'll be watching for the great things you will accomplish in years to come. Meliora!"
 
Hartwig has served in her current position since a restructuring of the track & field and cross country programs during the 2015-16 seasons. Prior to that, she was Head Coach of the women's cross country and track & field teams from 1989 to 2009. She was later the Women's Cross Country and Distance Coach from 2009 to 2015.
 
"We are very grateful to Barb for her many years of service to our students and the University," says Executive Director of Athletics George VanderZwaag. "We wish her all the best in her retirement."
 
Hartwig enjoyed an award-winning career guiding the Yellowjackets throughout the years. She was named New York State Collegiate Track Conference (NYSCTC) Coach of the Year twice and had previously earned Region I Coach of the Year honors from USA Track and Field. Recently, Hartwig has been a part of the Liberty League Track and Field Coaching Staff of the Year six times in the last five calendar years, spanning both the men's and women's indoor and outdoor seasons.
 
Under Hartwig, Rochester's women earned University Athletic Association indoor track and field titles in 1990 and 1991 and were NYSCTC indoor champions in 2008. During her time as head coach, four individuals combined for five All-America honors in women's cross country and track & field.
 
"Congratulations to Barb on her well-deserved retirement! For more than three decades, Coach Hartwig has worked tirelessly to ensure that our student-athletes enjoyed a top-notch experience during their time at Rochester," says Sam Albert, Rochester's Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. "She has served our track & field and cross country programs in several different capacities, and has always kept our students at the center of everything she does. Barb also served our sport on several conference and national committees throughout her career, and helped advance Division III Track & Field and Cross Country and the coaching profession through her hard work and dedication. Our student-athletes and coaches wish Coach Hartwig all the best as she enjoys the next chapter!"
 
A former Division III President of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), Hartwig also served on the NCAA Division III Track and Field Committee for four years.
 
Her career dates back to her days in Wisconsin where she started out coaching at the scholastic level. She later moved onto working as a graduate assistant at Ohio State prior to coming to the River Campus.
 
Hartwig graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with degrees in Physical Education and Art Education in 1981. She competed on the Eagles track & field and cross country programs for four years.