SPOKANE, WA- Gonzaga Cross Country and Track & Field named two new Graduate Assistants to the coaching staff as the Zags gear up for the 2025 Cross Country season.

Cooper Laird joins the men's coaching staff after finishing his undergraduate at Gonzaga last spring, while Piper Kunesh joins the women's coaching staff after finishing her running career at a WCC rival.

Cooper Laird joins the 2025-2026 coaching staff as a Graduate Assistant after finishing his collegiate running career last season. A four time qualifier for the NCAA Championships in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, Laird holds the third overall time in the event in school history (8:42.64). A leader in academics as well as athletics, Laird was named to the USTFCCA All-Academic team three times from 2023 to 2025, in addition to being named to the CSC Academic All-District team in 2024 and 2025. Further information on Laird's running career can be found at his athlete page on Gozags.com, he will now transition into coaching while working for his former coach Pat Tyson.

Piper Kunesh joins the Gonzaga Women's Track and Field coaching staff for the next two years after being named the new Graduate Assistant. Kunesh joins the Zags after finishing a career running at St. Mary's College, where she competed in both Cross Country and Track & Field for the Gaels. Kunesh competed in 10 different events during her time with the Gaels, giving her the ability to assist head coach Jake Stewart in a wide array of events.