Saint Michael's graduate Gus MacLeod '02, who has established himself as one of the top collegiate Alpine skiing coaches in the country, returns for his 16th season as head coach of the Purple Knight men's and women's Alpine skiing programs in 2025-26.
The longest-tenured Alpine or Nordic skiing head coach in College annals, MacLeod has turned the Purple Knights into a top-five outfit in the East, routinely sending multiple student-athletes to the all-divisions NCAA Championship at year's end. Student-athletes mentored by MacLeod have combined for 32 of the program's 40 all-time NCAA Championship appearances, with all five All-America skiers in College history being coached by MacLeod. That quintet has combined for 13 All-America performances.
MacLeod is responsible for all coaching duties associated with the NCAA Division II program, which competes in the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) against all of the top squads in the East, including the University of Vermont, Dartmouth College and Middlebury College.
A Vermont native, MacLeod attended high school at Carrabassett Valley Academy in Maine before skiing competitively at Plymouth (N.H.) State University for two seasons. MacLeod then transferred to Saint Michael's, where he again skied competitively before earning his bachelor of science degree in business administration in 2002.
Saint Michael's College Alpine Skiing Head Coach, 2011 to Present (16th Season)
- 2 EISA Alpine Skiing Coach of the Year Honors (2017, 2022)
- 13 USCSCA/NCAA All-America Finishes - 2016 (Guillaume Grand '19), 2017 (Grand), 2019 (Grand), 2022 (Simen Strand '24 2x, Helene Kristoffersen '25), 2023 (Eirik Kveno '25 2x, Kristoffersen, Strand, Gray Flanagan '26), 2024 (Strand 2x)
- 32 NCAA Championship Qualifications - 2012 (1), 2013 (1), 2014 (1), 2015 (1), 2016 (3), 2017 (3), 2018 (4), 2019 (5), 2022 (4), 2023 (4), 2024 (3), 2025 (2)
- 2 EISA Giant Slalom Points Champions (Kristoffersen, 2023 & 2025)
- 12 EISA All-East Honors
- 3 VARA Collegiate Skiers of the Year
- 3 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Honors
- 12 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Honors
- 111 USCSCA National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team Qualifiers
- NCAA Championship Finishes: 2012 (19th), 2013 (20th), 2014 (19th), 2015 (18th), 2016 (15th), 2017 (15th), 2018 (12th), 2019 (13th), 2022 (13th), 2023 (11th), 2024 (12th), 2025 (13th)
- 6 Event Wins: 2024 (Men's Colby GS), 2023 (Men's Harvard GS, Men's Williams GS), 2022 (Men's SMC GS), 2019 (Men's SLU GS), 2017 (Men's UVM SL)
Saint Michael's College Alpine Skiing Technical Coach, 2010 (1 Season)
- 1 NCAA Championship Qualifier (Brad Harden '10)
- 2010: 21st at NCAA Championship
U.S. Ski Team Head Ski Technician, 2005-06 to 2008-09 (4 Years)
- Worked and traveled with men's Alpine team
- Spent two seasons with men's World Cup Speed Team
Mount Mansfield Ski Club Coach, 2002-03 to 2004-05 (3 Years)
