Marbry Gansle

Age: 68
Family: Husband, Steve; Daughter, Ashley
Residence: Newtonville (summer); Florida (winter)
Hometown: Old Chatham
Career: Retired physical education teacher and varsity coach at Shaker High School for cross country, gymnastics, outdoor track & field; high school and USATF official

By Kristen Hislop

“Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” – George Bernard Shaw, 1905 play, Man and Superman

We all know that is a fallacy, read on for proof. According to Barbara (Bobbi) Palma, who brought many women’s sports programs/teams to the Capital Region, Marbry Gansle was a world class runner. Bobbi notes, “she had incredible determination plus talent to go far. She always exuded joy with a big smile.” For reference understanding great talent, Bobbi also coached Joan Benoit Samuelson early in her career.

Just a few years back Marbry raced head-to-head against Francie Larrieu-Smith, veteran of five Olympic teams and co-winner of the 1985 Freihofer’s Run for Women 10K. Marbry raced the 800 against Doris Brown Heritage. For context, in 1966 Doris became the first woman to run a sub-five-minute mile indoors, clocking 4:52. By the following year, she began her string of five world cross country championships. Bobbi took Marbry under her wing, providing training and accompanying her to meets. A first airplane ride, Junior Nationals in Ohio beating Mary Decker (now Slaney), then Nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico and California. Her best finish was 27th in Nationals, just missing the international team by two places. Bobbi told me at the 2023 USATF national meeting that Marbry would have made the international team. 

In the 70s there was no funding for women’s sports, so Bobbi’s girls paid for their races and travel via fundraising with candy sales. Bobbi shared a story of being on the NYS Thruway in bad weather. They and many other cars were stopped and semi stranded. Marbry took advantage of the situation by jumping out of the car and selling candy to other motorists! 

Let’s take a step back. Growing up on a dairy farm in Old Chatham, Marbry was no stranger to hard work and pushing her body. Sports were a draw in part due to Mr. Lambert, her elementary physical education teacher. Knowing she wanted to teach, she played every sport in high school – four years of varsity basketball, varsity gymnastics, three years of varsity track, one year of softball, one year of volleyball, and one season of cheerleading. “I did every sport that we had. I wanted to experience what we had to become a well-rounded PE student. In college, I commuted an hour each way before I-90 was completed, so no sports except for running. My last two years, when I lived on campus at Russell Sage College, I did play field hockey and lacrosse. There was no track team at Russell Sage College, but senior year, Russell Sage College let me attend a meet at SUNYA (now UAlbany) as an individual,” says Marbry.

Her running career started in ninth grade on the girls track team at Chatham. At the time the longest race for girls was the half-mile (800 meters). Marbry wanted to do the 800, but her coach put her in the 100 because she was “short.” “I’ll never forget it and jogging around the track one day for warm up, the girl that was in the 800 was upset she didn’t want to run it. I said I’ll run it, please go tell coach. I ran the 800 and broke the school record the first time out on that horrible oval track” recalls Marbry. It was then that the boys track coach Ed Knight took her to Albany State (now UAlbany) to meet the aforementioned Bobbi Palma. That led to travel and excelling in the sport for 13 years.

But Marbry’s true passion was teaching and coaching. Right after graduation from college Marbry was hired by Shaker, starting in the fall of 1977. As a PE teacher and gymnastics coach, she asked about cross country. There wasn’t a team so she started one! Ed Springstead, the boys coach, became a valued mentor. Marbry coached cross country, gymnastics and track and field for 126 consecutive seasons. She says, “coaching three sports for 42 years flew by! Coaching gymnastics in the winter season was a nice change as it breaks up the running. Gymnastics is so creative, helping gymnasts make up their individual routines to fit their personalities, takes time.”

As a coach, Marbry has received many accolades, but one that stands out was received earlier this year. “Being inducted into the NYSPHSAA Hall of Fame was a huge honor. The ceremony was awesome and I received a huge Super Bowl sized ring! It is so rewarding to know that people realize and appreciate all the hard work and time I’ve put in over the years during my career.” In December, she will also receive another award according to renowned coach and official Mark Mindel. This month Marbry will be inducted into the indoor Armory T&F Hall of Fame in NYC.

I just had to ask, what makes a great coach? After all, I am now coaching in high school so why not learn from one of the best? Marbry says, “Bottom line is you’ve got to get to know your athletes, you don’t just go out there and say this is what we’re doing today and be done with it. You really have to be a big part of their lives. You have to find out things that they like so you can push their buttons. Show that you care! You have to instill confidence in the kids and make them believe that they can do anything you ask them. If you ask them to figuratively run through a wall, they’ve got to believe that they can do it. You have to make sure that every kid knows that you care about them. I had big teams and never had to cut. Not all are top athletes, but being part of a team meant the world to them. I give them a lot of credit for getting out there and trying. I don’t care how slow they are, just as long as they get out there and try. It’s more than a lot of people do and I’m just so proud of them for their efforts.”

Marbry says her athletes were like family. Likely that’s because she had amazing support from her own family. Her husband, Steve, is and has been supportive of Marbry, understanding the time and commitment needed. He comes from a family of athletes and coaches. “Our daughter, Ashley grew up at my side. She was a week old when I took her to the Empire State Games!” says Marbry. Growing up in the sport it isn’t surprising that Ashley is now teaching and coaching at Columbia High School. Excelling early, she is head coach for cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field. Her mom says, “I am so proud of her! She is so knowledgeable in the field events! She competed for me at Shaker, attended SUNY Cortland and started off there as a pole vaulter and jumper, and finished her career as a thrower! I absolutely love and admire her working with her teams.”

Ashley says, “I grew up as an only child but it never felt that way as I always had older sisters to look up to on her teams. Spending every weekend of the school years at competitions never felt like we were giving up anything; it was just spending time with our family. Mom spent summer’s taking her athletes on European trips; she would bring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to meets so everyone had lunch. Sounds a lot like what Bobbi Palma had done for her.”

Ashley learned important lesson from her mom, “How to be passionate about what you do, sacrifice to give your athletes the best opportunities to be successful, and try to give everyone on your team equal support no matter their physical talent – you are making an impact on everyone you coach.” 

Those big shoes might be intimidating, but not for Ashley. She has learned to strive for the stars. Fellow longtime coach, Mark Mindel, puts Marbry up in those stars. “Dedicated, friendly to everyone, joyous” that’s Marbry. She cheers for the competition as loudly as for her own team. Mark has teamed with Marbry as an official and administrator. He exudes admiration saying “she would give the shirt off her back with a smile.”

Most people would be burned out teaching and coaching three seasons, but not Marbry. She also had leadership roles in those sports. She is still the state chairman for girls’ gymnastics (since 1985) and cross country (since 1995). Why keep going in retirement? “I love going to state championships and being a part of the excitement! I help with the planning and I just love it, it’s like a family reunion when I go to see other coaches that I know.”

Marbry volunteers and is a high school and USATF official. She officiated in college, but as a new teacher and coach that took a backseat until 2014. She started officiating on light days; a day with a short workout or she would jump in on a rare weekend without an event. After retiring, she started officiating as much as possible because it’s a great way to attend some high-level events! “I’ve been honored to do the Penn Relays. I’ve done that twice and it’s a volunteer position – people think you make a lot of money! Zero, they don’t even pay your expenses, just meals. “It’s costly, but part of giving back. I love being in the stadium, seeing the athletes.” She’s also officiated at Indoor Nike Nationals at the Armory, state meets, and outdoor nationals for New Balance. As a Nike ambassador since 2010, for the Nike Regionals she propels the course and manages T-shirt sales at Bowdoin Park. “I have made some amazing and wonderful friendships from these experiences!”

Some officiating work is volunteer, but her commitment to sport doesn’t end there. She doesn’t know how to say, ‘I don’t have time to volunteer.’ “When the Freihofer’s Run for Women needed help, I would bring the Shaker team. We’d do the Troy Turkey Trot and help at the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon. My gymnastics team would go to nursing homes and volunteer there singing Christmas carols, even though I can’t sing!” Now wintering in Florida, she volunteers for a local marathon at the end of January. “I always enjoy giving back. It’s not what you get in life, it is what you do for other people that’s so rewarding!” How will you share your gifts in 2024? 

Kristen Hislop (hislopcoaching@gmail.com) is a USA Triathlon and Ironman U coach, and race director for the Freihofer’s Run for Women. The Hislop Coaching motto is “Do–Believe–Achieve” because she feels everyone is destined for greatness. She is a proud mother to two boys who run in college and her husband recently completed his first 70.3 triathlon.