#346: Laurie Feit-Melnick - Univ of Rhode Island | 33 Years of Leadership, Legacy & Trailblazing

The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast · Jan 19, 2026 · 1h 45m · transcript

From Long Island in the early 1980s—where girls weren’t even allowed to run cross country—to becoming the second head women’s coach in University of Rhode Island history, Laurie Feit-Melnick has spent a lifetime breaking barriers, building community, and shaping generations of women.In this powerful conversation, Laurie takes us through a journey few could imagine:🏃‍♀️ Starting her high school's first-ever girls cross country team🎓 Navigating personal tragedy during college and the life-changing mentorship that kept her running📚 Becoming a coach not through design but through service…