STANDISH, ME – Saint Joseph's College Athletics Director Brian Curtin has announced that Tom Dann and Kurt Thibeault have been named as the head coaches of the Monks' cross country and track and field programs, respectively.

The duo will fill the roles vacated by former Head Coach Ray Putnam, who left Saint Joseph's after guiding the cross country and track and field programs for the last three years. Putnam, a two-time GNAC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year honoree, helped spearhead the Monks' varsity track and field program and led the women's cross country team to consecutive GNAC Championship runner-up performances.

Already the longest-tenured head coach in the history of the Saint Joseph's cross country program, Dann returns for his third stint as the Monks' skipper and will begin his 15th year at the helm this coming fall. In 14 previous seasons (1992-93, 1998-09) at Saint Joseph's, he guided the women's squad to consecutive GNAC titles (2007, 2008) and 15 of his runners accounted for 27 All-Conference honors.

Dann also led the men's team to a conference championship runner-up performance in 2007, the program's best GNAC finale finish to date, and was recognized by his peers as the GNAC Men's Coach of the Year in 2007 and the Women's Coach of the Year in 2008.

A member of the Saint Joseph's College faculty as an Exercise Science Instructor, Dann is no stranger to the track and field program, having served as an assistant coach last year, and will continue to work as Coach Thibeault's assistant during the winter and spring months.

Thibeault, who worked as an assistant for the SJC cross country and track and field squads for the last three years, has been chosen as the second head coach in the history of the Monks' indoor and outdoor track and field programs. A knowledgeable young coach who competed collegiately in sprints and middle distance events at the University of Maine, Thibeault possesses a strong rapport with the athletes and looks to be the perfect fit for a growing program about to begin its fourth year in existence.

Thibeault will also continue working as an assistant coach for the Monks' men's and women's cross country programs in the fall.

"After speaking with both coaches it was clear that they will be a strong coaching team," adds Curtin. "They will bring enthusiasm, professionalism and a desire to continue the progress Coach Putnam made within these programs."