STANDISH, ME – Saint Joseph's College Athletic Director Brian Curtin announced today that Tom Dann, the head coach for the men's and women's cross country programs for the past 12 seasons and 14 years overall, has stepped down.
Dann will remain a member of the Saint Joseph's College faculty as an Exercise Science Instructor.
During his time at St. Joe's, Dann has coached 15 different runners who have accounted for 27 All-Conference honors. Since joining the Great Northeast Athletic Conference in 2007, the Monks have captured a pair of Women's GNAC Championships (2007, 2008), and a men's runner-up effort (2007), under Dann's guidance.
Dann, who was selected as the 2007 GNAC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year and earned the same award for the women's program the following year, played a pivotal role in the achievements of Ryan Prescott '09, who won the GNAC Championship races during his junior and senior campaigns and garnered the subsequent GNAC Runner of the Year honors both seasons.
Dann attended Wittenberg University (OH), where he competed as a member of the cross country and track and field programs and served as a three-time captain. While there, he set a school record in the 10,000 meter event. He continues to run competitively and captured the top time (1:23.42) for the 50-54 age group, and ranked 25th out of 1,869 participants, in the Peak Performance Half Marathon in Portland on October 4th, 2009.
“Tom has been a valuable, loyal member of Saint Joseph's College Athletics,” adds Curtin. “For 14 years he has led the cross country teams with enthusiasm and class. We are grateful for all the time and energy he put into coaching here at Saint Joseph's. This decision was a difficult one for Tom, but it will allow him to focus on his family and on the growing Exercise Science program.”
