Jason Munsch Named Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach

Published: Tuesday, July 27, 2021
NJIT Track and Field New Hire Jason Munsch

 Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Lenny Kaplan has announced the hiring of Jason Munsch as NJIT's new Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach. Munsch will replace former head coach Al Alonso, who has stepped down after 18 years at the helm of the program.

"We had a great pool of candidates for this head coaching position but Jason's experiences and vision for the future of our programs told me he was the right candidate for NJIT," Kaplan said of Munsch.

"I am looking forward to helping Jason to implement his plans to grow and elevate the competitiveness of both our Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track & Field programs within the America East, regionally, and nationally."

Munsch comes to Highlander Nation with nearly two decades of coaching and training experience ranging from high school to Division I.

Munsch's last collegiate coaching position came as Head Men's and Women's Coach at Division II Florida Institute of Technology from 2015-17. Munsch was able to find success leading a small Florida Tech program with a similar student-athlete profile as NJIT's. During his two-year tenure, Florida Tech student-athletes produced 22 combined school records, two All-Americans, nine Peach Belt Conference Championships, 16 USTFCCCA All-Region selections, five individual and four team USTFCCCA All-Academic honors, 30 PBC All-Academic selections, the 2017 USTFCCCA DII South Region Field Event Athlete of the Year, and a host of other athletic and academic accomplishments.

"First and foremost, I would like to thank God for blessing me with this opportunity. I would like to thank Peg Hefferan, Lenny Kaplan, and the rest of the search committee for believing in me and my ability to lead the Highlander track and field and cross country program. I believe that all of my past experiences as an athlete, teacher, and coach have prepared me for this moment, which I have dreamed about for years. I am grateful for and humbled by the opportunity to mentor and lead the fine young men and women of this program and build upon the academic and athletic success established under former head coach Al Alonso to elevate this program to new heights within the American East Conference and nationally," Munsch said about coming to NJIT.

"I believe the academic prominence of NJIT, the vision and leadership of our administrative team, and the location of our university within this amazing state and metropolitan area is the perfect recipe to build something truly special. I am excited about the journey that lies ahead and establishing a championship culture here at NJIT. Finally, I would like to thank my wife for her unending love and support, for always believing in me, and for encouraging me to pursue my passion for coaching.

Munsch has also spent time as an assistant coach at College of Charleston (2006-07, assistant), University of Central Missouri (2004-06, graduate assistant),and Bowling Green (2003-04).

Munsch has also made a number of coaching stops in the high school ranks. He spent the 2021 outdoor season serving as a part-time assistant coach at Gill St. Bernard's School in Gladstone. Munsch has also been an assistant at Manalapan (2017-18) and the head coach at Riverview (FL) High School (2010-15). One of his major highlights at Manalapan came in 2018 when he helped lead the boys 4x100m relay team to a meet record victory in the Emerging Elite National Championship at New Balance Outdoor Nationals.

Additionally, Munsch has spent the last three years (2018-present) as the head trainer for Golden Fleece Training, an organization he founded that helps train high school and college track & field athletes and football players.

Munsch is a 2003 graduate of the University of Toledo, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education and was a four-year member of the track and field program. He went on to earn his Master's degree in Physical Education from the University of Central Missouri (then Central Missouri State University) in 2006. 

Munsch also holds a number of coaching certifications from USA Track & Field (Level 1, Level 2 - Sprints/Hurdles/Relays, Level 2 - Jumps). 

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Florida Tech 

  • 12 Men's School Records & 10 Women's School Records 

2017: 

  • 1 First Team All-American and 1 Second Team All-American in the Men's Long Jump 
  • USTFCCCA DII South Region Field Event Athlete of the Year 
  • 15 NCAA Division II Provisional Qualifiers 
  • Peach Belt Conference Championships: 7 Champions, 6 Runner-ups, 21 Medalists, 36 All-Conference Performers, Female Freshman Track Athlete of the Year 
  • First Elite 15 Award Recipient 
  • USTFCCCA All-Academic Selections: 3 Individuals, 2 Teams (Men's & Women's) 
  • 14 Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Selections 
  • 12 USTFCCCA All-Region Selections 

2016: 

  • 4 NCAA Division II Provisional Qualifiers 
  • 1 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championship Participant in the Men's 400m 
  • Peach Belt Conference Championships: 2 Champions, 4 Runner-ups, 10 Medalists, 24 All-Conference Performers, Male Field Event Athlete of the Year 
  • GradesFirst Elite 15 Award Recipient 
  • USTFCCCA All-Academic Selections: 2 Individuals, 1 Team (Women's) 
  • 5 CoSIDA Academic All-District Selections & 2 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans 
  • 16 Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Selections 
  • 4 USTFCCCA All-Region Selections 

College of Charleston

  • 17 School Record Performances
  • 7 All-Conference Performers

University of Central Missouri 

  • 1 First Team and 1 Second Team All-American in the Women's High Jump 
  • 7x Team MIAA Conference Champions (Men's and Women's Indoor and Outdoor) 
  • 24 All-Conference Performers and 1 Conference Champion 
  • 8 NCAA Division II Provisional Qualifiers 

Bowling Green State University

  • 2 All-Conference Performances 

Manalapan High School 

  • 7 School Records in the Sprints and Relays
  • Indoor: 1 Conference and County Champion, 1 Sectional Medalist, 1 State Group 4 Medalist, 1 Meet of Champions Medalist, 3 All-Conference and 6 All-County Performers 
  • Outdoor: 1 Emerging Elite National Champion (Boy's 4x100m Relay), 4 Divisional Champions, 3 County Champions, 1 Conference Champion, 1 Sectional Champion, 9 All-County Performers, 7 All-Conference Performers, 6 Sectional Medalists

Riverview High School 

  • 21 School Records, 34 District Champions, 15 Regional Champions, 37 State Qualifiers, 13 State Championship Medalists, 1 State Champion, 3 State Runner-ups