HACKENSACK, N.J. – Fairleigh Dickinson Head Men's/Women's Track and Field Coach
Sharlene Milwood-Lee announced the addition of longtime coach Dan Mecca to her staff on Wednesday afternoon. Mecca brings over 30 years of track and field experience to the FDU program. The assistant coach will be primarily working with the Knights throwers.
Mecca spent 31 seasons at Manhattan College, including 24 as the head coach of the Jaspers track and field program and seven years as an assistant field events coach. He also was the head coach of Manhattan's cross country program for 19 seasons.
On the addition of Mecca to her staff, Milwood-Lee said, "I am excited to have Dan join our staff. He is a highly respected, well-rounded coach in our field and will add a new dynamic to our staff with his expertise in the events he will be coaching."
At Manhattan, Mecca helped guide the program to 61 conference championships and in 2012 he earned MAAC Coach of the Year for both indoor and outdoor track and field. He also coached five athletes to NCAA titles, including two in throwing events. Mecca's efforts in 2005 earned him the title of NCAA Regional Coach of the Year. Over the course of his 24 seasons, Mecca sent at least one athlete to the NCAA Championships each year.
Mecca's coaching career began in 1974 at St. Mary's High School in Rutherford, N.J. The Montclair State University graduate took over the St. Mary's cross country and track and field programs in 1977 before earning his first head coaching position in 1984 at William Paterson University.
In addition, Mecca coached the United States team at the 1990 World Junior Championships, the 1993 Irish National Team and the United States World Championship team in 2009. Most recently, he coached the USA Track and Field National Team at the World U20 Championships in 2018 and was an assistant throwing coach in the 2019 Pan American Games.
The FDU men and women cross country teams will begin their seasons on Saturday, September 7, at 9:30 a.m., in the Fordham Fiasco/Ed Joyce Memorial Meet in Bronx, N.Y.
