Nicol Starkes (formerly Traynor) is in her fifth season with cross country and track and field, joining Rutgers in 2021 to work with the program's distance runners. She served as interim associate head coach at the start of the 2024 campaign and was elevated to the post full-time at the end of the cross country season.
The Rutgers distance program has experienced marked improvements, capturing several indoor and outdoor school records, including the 800, 1,500, mile, 3,000-meter and distance medley relay. The women’s cross country squads have posted the top-2 team finishes in program history in back-to-back season (2021, 2022) and Alex Carlson became a two-time NCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region honoree (2022, 23) for a pair of top-20 finishes. It marked the first Scarlet Knight to earn all-region selection since 2015 and her 10th-place performance in 2023 was the best individual finish since 2003.
Starkes arrived ‘On The Banks’ following a five-year stint at NYU where she was involved in all facets of the men's and women's programs, with her primary focus being on the distance and middle distance student-athletes.
During her five-year career with the Violets, Starkes helped guide several successful moments, including NCAA Championship qualifiers, All-Americans, conference Rookie of the Year honors, and all-region performers.
In cross country, freshman Siena Moran earned University Athletic Association (UAA) Rookie of the Year honors, was a United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Atlantic Region performer, qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship, and was selected Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro Runner of the Month (September). She also won individual titles at the Ramapo Season Opener and the Paul Short Invitational.
Two more of Starkes' cross country runners, freshman Leah Haley and junior Dillan Spector, also qualified for the NCAA Championship.
During the 2018 cross country season, Ben Haderle earned NCAA All-Atlantic Region honors and qualified for the NCAA Championship while Valentina House was named ECAC Metro Rookie of the Month for September.
Starkes came to NYU after spending the previous four years as an assistant cross country and track & field coach at her alma mater Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, NJ.
A 2012 graduate of the University of Richmond with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, Starkes had a successful four-year career competing for the Spiders' track & field team. She was a Second Team All-American in the 3,000m steeplechase as a junior and qualified for the NCAA Championships three times. A six-time Atlantic 10 champion, Starkes was named the conference's Most Outstanding Track Performer as a senior. Additionally, she was a three-time Academic All-Conference selection.
Starkes was a member of the 2010 cross country squad that will be honored as the Teams of Distinction during the Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024 ceremony. Following her collegiate career, Starkes ran in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2016 Olympic Trials Qualifier.
Starkes, a native of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, resides in Montclair with her husband Kevin and their daughter Chloe.
