Alex Coffin named head coach of Tommies cross country and track and field

(FREDERICTON, N.B.) - St. Thomas University is pleased to welcome Alex Coffin as the new head coach of the cross country and track and field programs.

Coffin takes over from Scott Davis who coached the cross country and track and field teams at STU for six years.

 “Alex really impressed me with his initiative to get involved and his positive demeanor,” said STU Athletics Director Mike Eagles. “He has a tremendous running background, strong ties to the running community, and is keen to build our program.”

Coffin received his Masters of Arts in Physical Education from the University of Victoria, where he was also a two-time All-Canadian in cross country. He is a seven-time winner of the Marathon by the Sea, he was the Cross Country and Road 10k Masters champion at the 2012 North American and Caribbean Championships, and he was named male Most Valuable Player for cross country for the University of New Brunswick at age 43.

On top of his own running, Coffin has coached the middle distance group of the Saint John Track Club and middle distance for the Provincial Legion Youth Program. In 2012 he was named Sport New Brunswick Co-Coach of the year for his work with the Saint John Track Club.

Coffin is looking forward to taking his coaching career to the next level at STU.

 “I am very excited to have the opportunity to coach the STU cross country and track and field program,” he said. “The AUS is highly competitive in both disciplines but I see great potential in the young athletes at STU. I am looking forward to the challenge and I expect us to be immediately competitive.”

STU’s cross country team has only been in the Atlantic University Sport conference for two years, but is growing quickly. During the 2012-2013 season both the men’s and women’s teams finished seventh. The track and field season saw a roster increase from nine cross country runners to a team of 22 runners, sprinters, throwers, and jumpers. At playoffs the men finished sixth and the women finished seventh.

“We are very grateful for the work Scott has done for the cross country and track and field program at STU,” Eagles said.

“During Scott’s time as head coach the program has grown immensely. Cross country and track have moved from the ACAA to the AUS, we hosted a national championship in 2010, and the program has earned the Leroy Washburn Community Service Award on three separate occasions. All of this is a testament to Scott’s dedication to the team.”

Source: St. Thomas Communications