NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Former Owls' standout Joseph Van Gilder has been named assistant cross country/track and field coach at Southern Connecticut State University. Van Gilder will assist head coaches Melissa Stoll and John Wallin with all aspects of both the women's and men's programs.

Van Gilder rejoins the Owls from the University of Hartford, where he spent the last two years with the Hawks men's and women's programs. First as an assistant and then as associate head coach, he was involved in all daily operational aspects including training, scheduling, recruiting, compliance and budget management.

Both programs earned the NCAA APR Public Recognition Award during his time on the staff. From the athletic standpoint, the team had 11 individuals and five relay groups earn All-New England honors, including three New England champions.

Prior to his time at Hartford, Van Gilder spent three years as an assistant coach at Springfield College. Selected as the Regional Assistant Men's Coach of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association in 2009, he mentored four NCAA National Champions, 25 All-Americans and a bevy of All-New England, All-ECAC and All-Conference selections.

Van Gilder has also amassed additional experience in the strength and conditioning realm at the University of Massachuetts and Valdosta State University (Ga.), and as a track and field coach at both Enfield and Enrico Fermi (Conn.) High Schools.

As a student-athlete at SCSU, Van Gilder was an All-New England and All-Conference selection in the 4x100 relay, as well as a IC4A qualifier.

He holds a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from SCSU and a M. Ed. in strength and conditioning from Springfield College. Van Gilder also completed graduate level coursework at Indiana University.


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TRANSACTIONS – Southern Connecticut State University – Joseph Van Gilder named assistant men's/women's cross country/track and field coach.