Joseph Van Gilder, the 2014, 2015 and 2016 USTFCCCA Regional Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year both indoors and outdoors, is in his sixth year as an assistant coach with both the Southern Connecticut State University men's and women's cross country/track and field programs.
Over the course of the past five years, Van Gilder has helped both programs achieve considerable success. The men’s program has claimed three New England Championships, along with six Northeast-10 Conference titles. The women’s program finished as the 2015 New England and Northeast-10 Conference Outdoor Champions, as well as the runner-up at seven Northeast-10 Championships, and also placed as the runner-up at the 2014 New England Outdoor Championships.
Van Gilder also played a pivotal role in mentoring the 2015 NCAA champion women's indoor 4x400 relay unit.
In addition, both the Owls’ men's cross country, women’s cross country and track and field teams have been recognized with multiple All-Academic honors for their work in the classroom, while the women’s cross country squad claimed consecutive Northeast-10 Conference Team Academic Excellence Awards.
Van Gilder rejoined the Owls from the University of Hartford, where he spent 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 Massachusetts 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.
