ADRIAN, Mich. – Adrian College Athletic Director Craig Rainey ’89 announced a leadership change for the track and field program following the resignation of head coach Kaylie Laskody due to personal reasons. Beginning in the new year, Matthew Gipple will serve as Acting Head Coach for the spring 2026 season. Following the conclusion of the academic year, Kirk Richards will assume the role of head coach for the Adrian College track and field teams.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Gipple and Coach Richards to Adrian College,” said Rainey. “Coach Gipple has demonstrated success as an assistant coach at Siena Heights, and we are confident in his ability to lead the program as Acting Head Coach. We look forward to welcoming Coach Richards to Adrian College at the conclusion of the 2026 season and wish him the best of luck in his final season at Siena Heights.”
Gipple has served as an assistant coach for the Siena Heights University cross country and track and field programs since 2024. During his time with the Saints, he has coached two conference champions, five national qualifiers, and one All-American. His athletes also include five All-Conference selections and one program record holder.
As a student-athlete at Siena Heights, Gipple competed in track and field and compiled an accomplished career. He earned four All-American honors, captured two conference championships, received 12 All-Conference selections, and qualified for seven national championships.
Richards brings extensive coaching experience to Adrian College, having spent 15 seasons at Siena Heights University coaching cross country and track and field. During his tenure, Richards coached 129 All-Americans, 94 individual conference champions, and 16 national champions. At the team level, he led the Saints to WHAC Outdoor Track and Field Women’s Championships in both 2016 and 2017.
Prior to his collegiate coaching career, Richards spent 18 years coaching at the high school level. He guided his teams to 14 regional championships and 42 conference titles while mentoring multiple state champions in events including pole vault, hurdles, distance, long jump, and sprint relays. Richards has also demonstrated strong local recruiting success at Siena Heights, with 25 of the program’s 28 athletes hailing from Michigan and two from northwest Ohio.
Gipple will begin his coaching duties at Adrian College immediately, while Richards will transition to Adrian College following the 2026 season.