HACKENSACK, N.J. - Entering his first full academic year as the Knights' head coach, FDU cross country/track and field leader Wesley Stephens announced Friday the arrival of Natalie McAlister as an assistant coach for the program. McAlister arrives on the banks of the Hackensack after coaching at NJIT (NCAA Division I - America East) last season.

"I'm excited to welcome Natalie to the staff," said Stephens. "She brings an infectious energy, experience and knowledge of the hurdles, jumps and sprints will help continue to push the program in the right direction."

With the Highlanders, McAlister served as an assistant coach and as NJIT's track and field social media coordinator. A former Division I student-athlete, McAlister spent three years prior to her time at NJIT at Watchung Hill High School in the role of girls track and field coach. At Watchung Hills, she specialized in hurdles, horizontal and vertical jumps, sprints and relays, managed her coaching staff and oversaw academic monitoring while also serving as a substitute teacher and special education classroom aide.

"I'm ecstatic to be joining Coach Stephens and the Knights family," commented McAlister. "I'm grateful to God and Coach Stephens for the opportunity! I look forward to making an impact on the team and program! Go Knights!"

McAlister's first high school coaching opportunities came during her assistant coach stints at Newark Tech (2017-19) and Benedictine Academy (2016-17). Her focuses on hurdles, jumps, sprints and relays remained the same while also helping oversee strength and conditioning and fundraising efforts and team travel to Nationals at Benedictine.

The newest member of the FDU family was a standout at Newark Tech High School, where she graduated from in 2012 and earned All-America honors, six New Jersey state titles across indoor and outdoor competitions, helped finish second in the Shuttle Hurdle Relay at the 2012 New Balance Indoor Nationals and ranked in the Top 20 nationally in the heptathlon.

McAlister graduated from William Paterson in 2021 with a Bachelor's in Sports Management.

Connect with FDU cross country/track and field on Twitter, @FDUKnightsXCTF, and on Instagram, @FDUKnightsTrack.