THIBODAUX - Former Colonel javelin thrower Leslie Bourgeois will remain with the program as only student athlete in Nicholls State University history to compete for consecutive national championships was named a graduate assistant coach with the Colonel track and field program.

"Having leslie on staff brings instant credibility to the program," Nicholls head track and field coach Scott Williamson said.  "She cas competed at the highest levels of competition within the US by competing in three of the last four U.S. Championships and each of the last two NCAA Championships, and been quite successful."

Bourgeois finished just 1.5 feet short of becoming the first track and field All-American in school history when she finished 13th at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship finals last June.  Her 2010 appearance at the NCAA finals came on the heels of a 22nd place finish at the 2009 NCAA Championships, making here the only Nicholls student athlete to compete in consecutive national championship finals.

In her four years of competition, the Raceland native earned three Southland Conference championships and qualified for NCAA postseason regional meets.

"She has a great attitude and personality which will be tremendous asset when it comes to recruiting new student athletes," Williamson said. "I think Leslie will be a role model for a lot of the ladies on the team as they see how hard she worked to accomplish her goals. She will be working with our javelin throwers and has a lot of great ideas on how to make them better and I look forward to working with her.."