Rob Hoppler was part of 27 America East Championships in his UNH coaching career.
Photo by: Jeremy Gasowski
Cross Country, Track & Field Coach Rob Hoppler to Retire
2/15/2024 9:40:00 AM | General, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field, Men's Cross Country
Three-decade coaching career highlighted by 27 conference championships
DURHAM, N.H. – After nearly three decades mentoring University of New Hampshire cross country and track & field student-athletes, Robert Hoppler will retire at the conclusion of the season, Director of Athletics Allison Rich announced Thursday.
"We thank Coach Hoppler for his remarkable run of success coaching Wildcat cross country and track & field student-athletes and congratulate him on his retirement," Rich said. "Hopp has been instrumental in the incredible achievements of countless student-athletes, and we appreciate his contributions to their academic and athletic victories and growth."
"I am happy for the privilege of coaching thousands of student-athletes over the past 30 years," Hoppler said. "It's been an honor working with them and their families, and I've enjoyed every moment of it."
Anna Magle-Haberek, now in her third year with the Wildcats, succeeded Hoppler as interim Director of the UNH Cross Country and Track & Field programs in February 2023 and was elevated to the permanent position last summer.
"Anna has demonstrated excellence in her first year as the leader of our cross country and track & field programs, and we look forward to her guiding the program for many years to come," Rich said.
"I am excited for the future of New Hampshire cross country and track & field with Coach Anna leading the way," Hoppler added.
Hoppler guided the Wildcat women's cross country team to seven America East championships, including six in seven years (2003; 2013-17; 2019). In 25 years as a women's cross country head coach in the conference, Hoppler's teams registered 23 Top-4 finishes.
A 1989 graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Hoppler originally joined UNH as assistant men's cross country and track & field coach in 1994, a role he held until 1997. After a two-year stint with the men's and women's cross country and track & field programs at the University of Vermont, the Plaistow, N.H. native returned to Durham in 2000 as the head women's cross country coach. He was an assistant coach with the men's cross country team from 2000-08, and was promoted to co-head coach of the women's track and field program alongside Casey Carroll in 2017. In July 2021, Hoppler succeeded legendary coach Jim Boulanger as the Director of the Cross Country and Track & Field programs.
"I'd like to thank Jim Boulanger for giving me the opportunity to be part of this great program after all the years working by his side," Hoppler said.
During his UNH tenure, Hoppler played a significant part in 27 conference championships across the cross country and track & field teams. He was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division I Women's Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2016 and is a seven-time winner of the America East Coach of the Year award.
Among the 13 individual national champions mentored by Hoppler is the most decorated student-athlete in school history – Elle Purrier St. Pierre, the 2018 NCAA Indoor Mile Champion. Purrier St. Pierre, who last Sunday in New York broke her own American record in the women's indoor mile (4 minute, 16.41 seconds) at the renowned Wannamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, was an 11-time All-American, 2017-18 America East Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and 17-time America East champion who won the 2018 conference title in the 1,500-meter run and placed seventh in that event at the NCAA championship meet. She competed for the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team in the women's 1,500 meters in Tokyo, Japan.
Four student-athletes under Hoppler's tutelage combined for 16 NCAA All-American honors: Purrier St. Pierre (11x); Rosie Donegan (3x); Anne Twombly (2015) and Cathy Parker (2007).
The Hoppler File
Coaching Honors
USTFCCCA Women's Assistant Coach of the Year, D-I Indoor Track, Northeast Region - 2016
USTFCCCA Women's Assistant Coach of the Year, D-I Outdoor Track, Northeast Region – 2015
America East Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year (7x)
2003
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2019
NCAA All-Americans (16)
Elle Purrier, 11x, 2015-16-17-18
Rosie Donegan, 3x, 2015-16
Anne Twombly, 2015
Cathy Parker, 2007
NCAA Elite 90 Award
Rosie Donegan, 2016
CoSIDA Academic All-Americans (4x)
Kaitlyn Dugan, 2011
Rosie Donegan, 2x, 2016, 2017
Elle Purrier, 2017
America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year (4x)
Amy DeCamp, 2001-02
Rosie Donegan, 2015-16
Elle Purrier, 2x, 2016-17, 2017-18
Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year (9x)
Melanie Morin, 1999
Amy DeCamp, 2002
Lesley Read, 2004
Cathy Parker, 2008
Keely Maguire, 2013
Anne Twombly, 2015
Rosie Donegan, 2017
Elle Purrier, 2018
Meg Champagne, 2021
Individual National Champions (13)
Elle Purrier, 2018 NCAA Indoor Mile
Elle Purrier, 2014 USA Junior Steeplechase
Rosie Donegan, 2013 U23 Australian National Cross Country
Joanne Dow, 2008 Olympic Trials 20K Race Walk
Joanne Dow, 5x, USA Indoor 3000m Race Walk
Joanne Dow, 2x, USA Outdoor 20K Race Walk
Ashley Cooper, 2000 Bermuda 1500m
Ashley Cooper, 1999 Bermuda 800m
About UNH Athletics
UNH Athletics is committed to providing an outstanding student-athlete experience and fostering NCAA Division I teams that are a source of pride for the University community, the State of New Hampshire, and UNH alumni across the globe. UNH Athletics creates and sustains a culture committed to integrity, inclusion, respect, civic engagement, leadership, and academic achievement. These values are embedded in the pursuit of athletic excellence and contribute to an extraordinary student-athlete experience.
UNH Athletics is committed to supporting every team and student-athlete with the goal of competing for conference and national championships and with an uncompromising resolve to achieve athletic, academic, and personal excellence.
"We thank Coach Hoppler for his remarkable run of success coaching Wildcat cross country and track & field student-athletes and congratulate him on his retirement," Rich said. "Hopp has been instrumental in the incredible achievements of countless student-athletes, and we appreciate his contributions to their academic and athletic victories and growth."
"I am happy for the privilege of coaching thousands of student-athletes over the past 30 years," Hoppler said. "It's been an honor working with them and their families, and I've enjoyed every moment of it."
Anna Magle-Haberek, now in her third year with the Wildcats, succeeded Hoppler as interim Director of the UNH Cross Country and Track & Field programs in February 2023 and was elevated to the permanent position last summer.
"Anna has demonstrated excellence in her first year as the leader of our cross country and track & field programs, and we look forward to her guiding the program for many years to come," Rich said.
"I am excited for the future of New Hampshire cross country and track & field with Coach Anna leading the way," Hoppler added.
Hoppler guided the Wildcat women's cross country team to seven America East championships, including six in seven years (2003; 2013-17; 2019). In 25 years as a women's cross country head coach in the conference, Hoppler's teams registered 23 Top-4 finishes.
A 1989 graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Hoppler originally joined UNH as assistant men's cross country and track & field coach in 1994, a role he held until 1997. After a two-year stint with the men's and women's cross country and track & field programs at the University of Vermont, the Plaistow, N.H. native returned to Durham in 2000 as the head women's cross country coach. He was an assistant coach with the men's cross country team from 2000-08, and was promoted to co-head coach of the women's track and field program alongside Casey Carroll in 2017. In July 2021, Hoppler succeeded legendary coach Jim Boulanger as the Director of the Cross Country and Track & Field programs.
"I'd like to thank Jim Boulanger for giving me the opportunity to be part of this great program after all the years working by his side," Hoppler said.
During his UNH tenure, Hoppler played a significant part in 27 conference championships across the cross country and track & field teams. He was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division I Women's Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2016 and is a seven-time winner of the America East Coach of the Year award.
Among the 13 individual national champions mentored by Hoppler is the most decorated student-athlete in school history – Elle Purrier St. Pierre, the 2018 NCAA Indoor Mile Champion. Purrier St. Pierre, who last Sunday in New York broke her own American record in the women's indoor mile (4 minute, 16.41 seconds) at the renowned Wannamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, was an 11-time All-American, 2017-18 America East Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and 17-time America East champion who won the 2018 conference title in the 1,500-meter run and placed seventh in that event at the NCAA championship meet. She competed for the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team in the women's 1,500 meters in Tokyo, Japan.
Four student-athletes under Hoppler's tutelage combined for 16 NCAA All-American honors: Purrier St. Pierre (11x); Rosie Donegan (3x); Anne Twombly (2015) and Cathy Parker (2007).
The Hoppler File
Coaching Honors
USTFCCCA Women's Assistant Coach of the Year, D-I Indoor Track, Northeast Region - 2016
USTFCCCA Women's Assistant Coach of the Year, D-I Outdoor Track, Northeast Region – 2015
America East Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year (7x)
2003
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2019
NCAA All-Americans (16)
Elle Purrier, 11x, 2015-16-17-18
Rosie Donegan, 3x, 2015-16
Anne Twombly, 2015
Cathy Parker, 2007
NCAA Elite 90 Award
Rosie Donegan, 2016
CoSIDA Academic All-Americans (4x)
Kaitlyn Dugan, 2011
Rosie Donegan, 2x, 2016, 2017
Elle Purrier, 2017
America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year (4x)
Amy DeCamp, 2001-02
Rosie Donegan, 2015-16
Elle Purrier, 2x, 2016-17, 2017-18
Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year (9x)
Melanie Morin, 1999
Amy DeCamp, 2002
Lesley Read, 2004
Cathy Parker, 2008
Keely Maguire, 2013
Anne Twombly, 2015
Rosie Donegan, 2017
Elle Purrier, 2018
Meg Champagne, 2021
Individual National Champions (13)
Elle Purrier, 2018 NCAA Indoor Mile
Elle Purrier, 2014 USA Junior Steeplechase
Rosie Donegan, 2013 U23 Australian National Cross Country
Joanne Dow, 2008 Olympic Trials 20K Race Walk
Joanne Dow, 5x, USA Indoor 3000m Race Walk
Joanne Dow, 2x, USA Outdoor 20K Race Walk
Ashley Cooper, 2000 Bermuda 1500m
Ashley Cooper, 1999 Bermuda 800m
About UNH Athletics
UNH Athletics is committed to providing an outstanding student-athlete experience and fostering NCAA Division I teams that are a source of pride for the University community, the State of New Hampshire, and UNH alumni across the globe. UNH Athletics creates and sustains a culture committed to integrity, inclusion, respect, civic engagement, leadership, and academic achievement. These values are embedded in the pursuit of athletic excellence and contribute to an extraordinary student-athlete experience.
UNH Athletics is committed to supporting every team and student-athlete with the goal of competing for conference and national championships and with an uncompromising resolve to achieve athletic, academic, and personal excellence.
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