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Head Coach James McCowan

James McCowan, who earned NCAA Divison III All-America honors as a cross country runner at Vassar College in 1997 and held school records in every event from the mile to the 5k, is Vassar's first varsity track coach. McCowan, who graduated from Vassar College in 1999 with a BA in Anthropology, was a volunteer assistant coach for an NCAA National Championship qualifying women's cross country team at Brandies University in 2001, and was assistance coach for the Springfield College men's cross country and track & field teams during the 2003-04 year. Since returning to Vassar to coach the cross country teams in 2004, McCowan has led the student Track Club to numerous school records in nearly all events, and coached nearly a dozen individual ECAC qualifying marks. McCowan earned his M.Ed. in Physical Education and Sport Philosophy from Springfield College in 2006 and is a USATF Level II certified Endurance Coach.

 

Assistant Track Coach Christopher Richmonds

Christopher Richmond has over 15 years of experience in track & field, and as an athlete competed at the NCAA Division I and Division II levels in the sprints, jumps and relays. Chris’ relay teams held records at the Yale Invitational in the 4x400m and Brown Invitational in the 4x200m and 4x400m. In 1996 and 1997 his relays teams qualified for the Millrose Games and Penn Relays, where they ran a 4x400m time of 3:12. In 1997 he ran a personal best of 21.4 in the 200m and competed in the Clarifter Games in Jamaica against world-class competition. After his 1998 season, Christopher took some time to train and compete with Jamaican National Team. Coach Richmonds earned Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Psychology degrees from Dakota Wesleyan University, and is currently finishing his Master’s in Education at Mercy College. He has taught in the New York City public school system and worked in Nursing in the greater Hudson Valley.


Associate Head Coach Ron Stonitsch

Associate Head Coach Ron Stonitsch has coached the Brewers Cross Country team since 1982, and helped found the student track club in 1985. Stonitsch, a member of the C. W. Post Hall of fame, was an 8 time All American and 3 time National College Cross Country and Track Champion, as well as the 1970 Penn Relays MVP and the Penn Relays two-mile record holder (8:38). Stonitsch holds a BA in History and Education from C. W. Post, and a M. Ed from SUNY Cortland. Having coached each of Vassar cross country's national qualifiers and all of the schools record holding track athletes, Stonitsch has build the Vassar Cross Country and Track programs from their infancy to consistent victories and success.