Since joining the Rensselaer athletic department in 1996, Colin Tory has played an integral role in growing the men’s and women’s track & field teams, as well as the cross country programs, originally serving as an assistant coach and later being promoted to head coach.
Having completed his 26th year in 2021, team championships have become the expectation for the Engineers under Tory, who has 
guided 50 squads to titles, led by 16 men's outdoor in the Liberty League and 11 more at the New York State Collegiate Track & Field Conference level. In indoor, his men's teams have won six championships in the league and at the New York State Meet. The women have eight Liberty League Championships with seven coming from outdoor.
A truncated 2021 campaign allowed for a limited schedule with a severely reduced roster because of COVID-19-related restrictions, but both women's and men's teams earned Liberty League East Championships and two individuals qualified for NCAA Championship competition.
The most recent season completed was the indoor campaign in 2019-20, though it was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. Rensselaer had seven qualifiers for the NCAA Championship, which was canceled, though each were named All-America. Among them was high jumper Jacy Scharlow, a sophomore who garnered her third such honor (including outdoor).
Scharlow was among three high jumpers who earned All-America at the 2019 championship, marking the first time the Engineers had three women capture certificates in the same event. She and Lauren Parker went on to earn their second All-America awards in outdoor. Also in outdoor, the men's team won their 11th straight Liberty League Championship Meet, this one coming as host. Tory and his assistants garnered Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
The 2017-18 campaign saw the women boast five top 3 finishes, while the men earned seven. Among three victories for the men was a tenth straight conference championship. The Engineers went on to finish a school record fifth at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, highlighted by a national championship performance in the 5000 meters by Grant O'Connor. Also the Division III runner-up in the 10000 meters, O'Connor was named the USTFCCCA National Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year - the first in school history.
Combined with cross country, RPI's men were tenth in the annual USTFCCCA Program of the Year Award standings.
In 2016-17, Rensselaer won five championships with the men collecting first place trophies at the league and state meets at both indoor and outdoor, while the women won the Liberty League Outdoor Championship. Tory and his assistants won Coaching Staff of the Year on three of a possible four occasions.
The 2015-16 season saw both outdoor teams capture league titles and once again Rensselaer won three Coaching Staff of the Year awards. In addition to the conference awards for both outdoor teams, the honor was bestowed upon the coaches following a victory in the men's outdoor state meet.
Tory has now captured 38 year-end staff awards with 25 coming from the conference, including for the 2018 outdoor season, 13 from the NYSCTC, three NCAA Atlantic Regional awards and the 2004 United States Track & Field / Cross Country Coaches Association Division III National Men's Indoor Coach of the Year.
Tory's coaching recognitions have come for indoor (12) and outdoor (26) and for women (6) and men (32). He has been the New York State Men's Outdoor Coach of the Year eight times and the Liberty League honoree 14 times, including each of the last 11 years and consecutively in 2005 and 2006.
He was also selected by his peers in the department with the Marvin Anderson Award, which is presented to the Coach of the Year, in 2005 and 2007.
Tory has helped the program as well as individuals and relay teams to unprecedented success in his tenure, including the 2017 NCAA Men’s Indoor distance medley relay national champions. He has mentored 40 student-athletes who have captured 72 NCAA All-America awards, including eight in 2016-17 and a school record 10 in 2018-19.
Tory, who has coached nearly every event, including sprints, distance, jumps, hurdles and pole vault, began at Rensselaer as an assistant coach in 1996 before being elevated to head coach of the women's track & field team in 1999. He was named head coach of the men's team and both cross country teams in December of 2000. 
Tory is involved in various track & field organizations, having served on the executive committees of the USTFCCCA (since 2009), ECAC Division III (since 2004) and NYSCTC for two stints (2003-07, 2013-15). He was also on the NCAA Division III Indoor Track Championships Jump Jury in 2001 and on the ECAC Division III Women's Track Committee the same year. He has also worked with area youth in conjunction with USA Track and Field.
A 1993 graduate of Bowdoin College in his home state of Maine, Tory ran cross country and track & field for the Polar Bears before earning a degree in History. Following his senior year, he was presented with the Elmer Longley Hutchinson Track Cup, which is awarded annually to a team member for high conduct both on and off the field of sport.
Upon graduation, he was a member of Volunteers in Service to America in Colorado, where he also coached high school track & field. Tory also has extensive experience as a clinician, having worked at Colby College, Bates College and at the Dick Fosbury Track and Field Camp at his alma mater.
He and his wife Anne have one daughter, Claire.
Updated May 2021
