Joe Compagni
Coach Compagni spent 24 years at the helm of Monmouth University cross-country and track and field. In his last 6 years, he led his teams to 23 MAAC Championships and earned 23 MAAC Coach of the Year awards. Previously, the Hawks had won 31 NEC Championships, with Coach Compagni picking up 27 NEC Coach of the Year awards. His athletes earned 26 NCAA Division 1 All-America honors, as well as over 300 Division 1 All-East honors. Coach Compagni also won 9 USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year awards. During his college career, he ran for the University of Delaware as undergraduate and the High Noon Athletic Club during graduate school at Cornell University. Compagni is now a coach for the Shore Athletic Club as well as the coach/advisor for the Monmouth U. Track & Field Club.
Mike Nelson
Coach Nelson is in his 19th year of collegiate coaching and his second year as the Head Coach and Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Monmouth. Nelson came to Monmouth after 12 years as the head cross country and assistant track coach at Marquette University. In his first year at Monmouth, the Hawks won the men's indoor track team title at the MAAC Championships. At Marquette, the Golden Eagles captured the women's 2016 and 2017 Big East indoor and outdoor track team titles, as well as the men's 2016 and 2018 Big East team titles in outdoor track.
A 2003 graduate of Truman State University, Nelson was a four-time All-MIAA performer. He competed in the NCAA Division II cross country national championships as a junior and senior, and helped his team to a 4th place finish in 2001 and a 14th place finish in 2002 at NCAAs. Nelson graduated cum laude from Truman State with a degree in exercise science. He earned his master's degree in physical education from Emporia State in 2005 and also earned a master’s degree in leadership studies from Marquette in 2018.
Nelson has his USA Track & Field Level I and Level II (endurance) certifications, and earned his USTFCCCA Endurance Specialist certification in 2011.
A 2003 graduate of Truman State University, Nelson was a four-time All-MIAA performer. He competed in the NCAA Division II cross country national championships as a junior and senior, and helped his team to a 4th place finish in 2001 and a 14th place finish in 2002 at NCAAs. Nelson graduated cum laude from Truman State with a degree in exercise science. He earned his master's degree in physical education from Emporia State in 2005 and also earned a master’s degree in leadership studies from Marquette in 2018.
Nelson has his USA Track & Field Level I and Level II (endurance) certifications, and earned his USTFCCCA Endurance Specialist certification in 2011.
Damon Godfrey
Damon Godfrey is in his second year as an assistant coach for cross country and track at Monmouth University following a five-year tenure as the Holmdel High School Boys and Girls Head Cross Country and Head Distance Coach. During his time at Holmdel, he had a combined 50-5 XC record across the five seasons. Godfrey coached five All-State Performers in both XC and in Track & Field.
For the 2019 season, a Godfrey-led 2019 Girl’s XC Team earned the Central Jersey Group 2 Championships and overall Group 2 State Champions. In 2018, the Girls XC Team placed third overall in New Jersey and earned seventh overall in the Northeast Region. For his coaching, he was named the 2018 NJ.com New Jersey State XC High School Coach of the Year. Godfrey competed in XC and Track & Field while attending Lynchburg University from 1994-98. During his time in Lynchburg, VA, he qualified individually in XC for the 1994 Division III XC National Championships. |
Counselors, Coaches and Guests
Counselors for the week include high school and college coaches, professional runners, Monmouth University distance runners and other collegiate cross country and track and field athletes. The counselors will lead group runs and workouts, and are available throughout the week to mentor campers. High school coaches who would like to have their team attend camp and join their athletes for all or part of the week are welcome to do so. Please feel free to contact one of the camp directors directly for details.
Counselors for the week include high school and college coaches, professional runners, Monmouth University distance runners and other collegiate cross country and track and field athletes. The counselors will lead group runs and workouts, and are available throughout the week to mentor campers. High school coaches who would like to have their team attend camp and join their athletes for all or part of the week are welcome to do so. Please feel free to contact one of the camp directors directly for details.