Marlee Berg, a native of Chelmsford, Mass., was named an assistant coach with the UMass Lowell cross country and track and field teams, head coach Gary Gardner announced Friday.

An alumnae of Westfield State ('09) and Smith College ('12), Berg will serve as an assistant with the women's and men's cross country teams and will assist with the River Hawk jumpers. She will also handle much of the administrative duties with all four programs.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Marlee to our River Hawk family,” said Gardner, in his 11^th year as Director of Cross Country and Track and Field. “She has the perfect blend of athletic and coaching experience to be a very valuable addition to our staff.”

Berg comes to UMass Lowell after spending two years as an assistant coach at Smith College while she simultaneously earned her master's degree in Exercise and sport studies. In admission to handling the administrative tasks for the program, she also served as the meet director at the 2012 NCAA Division III New England Championship in addition to the Smith Classic.

Previously, she spent one season at Westfield (2009-10) where she assisted the Owl jumpers.

“I'm certainly looking forward to working with and learning from the staff here at UMass Lowell,” said Berg. “Having competed against UMass Lowell, I am well aware of the great tradition of athletes and the reputation of the program.”

Berg enjoyed a splendid career at Westfield State from 2005-09, where she captured the NCAA Championship in the indoor high jump her senior year in Terre Haute, Ind., clearing 5 feet, 6.5 inches.

She was a four-time qualifier for the NCAAs: three times in the high jump and once in the pentathlon. She earned Division III All-New England honors nine times, which includes the New England Championship in the heptathlon in 2008.

Additionally, she won 14 Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) titles and copped All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) status three times.

She set several school records, including the high jump, pentathlon 200 (and 500 meters; and was also a member of the record-setting 4X200, 4X400 and 4X800 meter relay teams.

Berg was also very active outside the classroom and off the track, serving as vice president and treasurer of Westfield's Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB). She also served as president to the MASCAC SAAB as a senior.

She graduated with a degree in communications with a concentration in corporate and public relations. She holds a USA Track & Field Level I certificate, completed in 2010.

A 2005 graduate of Chelmsford H.S., Berg lives in Lowell, Mass.