MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Southern New Hampshire University Department of Athletics has announced that Jake Simon has been hired to lead the Cross Country Program.

Simon has already started at SNHU following a period with the University of Florida as an Assistant Cross Country/Track & Field Coach from July 2021 to December 2023. 

"I'm excited about Coach Simon bringing his knowledge and expertise acquired from his tenure with high-caliber student-athletes at the University of Florida up to SNHU," said Program Director Lex Butler.  "Our exceptional group of student-athletes is poised to thrive, benefiting from the enthusiasm, consistency, and passion that Coach Simon is set to instill in our distance programs."

During the 2021-'22 season, his first year on staff with the Gators, the Women's Track & Field team won the SEC Outdoor team title, as well as the NCAA Division I Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Men's Track & Field team also won the Outdoor Track & Field Championship in 2022 and defended the team title during the 2023 Outdoor season, making it four national championships in two years. The 2023 Cross Country season was one of the best in school history for the Gators. The Women's team won the SEC Cross Country Championships and finished 5th at the NCAA Cross Country National Championships in Charlottesville, VA, the best finish in school history.

Simon began his coaching career as a student assistant coach for his alumnus, Fairleigh Dickinson University, from June 2019 to January 2020.  He then became the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the New Jersey City University Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track & field teams.
Simon was a four-year standout runner (2014-'18) in cross country at the Division I level competing for the Pirates of Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, where he was a three-time Big East Conference All-Academic Team recipient (2016, '17, '18). He also competed on the track team for the Knights of Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ during his graduate studies, where he received Northeast Conference All-Academic Team honors.

The Freehold, NJ native is married to Isabella Whelan, who also ran cross country at Seton Hall. They have a daughter, Alba Jayne.

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FOR TRANSACTIONS
Southern New Hampshire – Named Jacob Simon Head Cross Country Coach/Assistant Track & Field Coach.