STANDISH, ME - Tom Dann, the longest-tenured coach in the history of the Saint Joseph's College of Maine men's and women's cross country and track and field programs, announced his retirement from active coaching on March 20. Dann served in the capacity as coach for the Monks harriers for twenty-six years while also serving as both the head and assistant coach for the men's and women's track and field programs.
Dann retires as one of the most respected and successful distance running coaches in the northeast. He guided the women's cross country program to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championships in 2007 and 2008 and a fifth-place finish in 2014. His efforts with the men's program resulted in a top three finish in the GNAC in 2014 and conference runner-up mark in both 2007 and 2024 In 2023 the Monks captured the GNAC men's cross country championship at its home course, contributing to Dann being named as conference coach of the year for the fifth time.
In addition to his efforts with SJC cross country, Dann also was instrumental in bringing track and field to Saint Joseph's, writing the original proposal for the college to sanction the sport as a club. In 2013, track and field became a varsity offering competing in NCAA Division III. As an assistant coach with the program, he was instrumental in helping the Monks capture GNAC indoor titles in 2023, 2024, and 2025 and the outdoor conference crown in 2023 and 2024. He has also served as a full-time instructor in the Sport and Exercise Science Department at the Standish school for twenty-one years.
"As I look back over my 29 years at St. Joe's," notes Dann, "my reflections are dominated by the incredible student-athletes I have had the pleasure to work with, both in the classroom and on the track and trails. Through the good times, the tough times, the exhilarating victories, the disappointing losses, it all boils down to the tremendous relationships that were built and are still strong today. I couldn't possibly ask for anything more . . ."
A native of Oberlin, Ohio, Dann graduated from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in Geology. He competed for the Tigers cross country and track and field squads throughout his four years in Springfield, including an appearance in the 1977 cross country national championships . A three-time team captain at Wittenburg, he set a school record in the 10,000 meter run during his collegiate career.
Upon his graduation from Wittenburg, Dann was an assistant coach at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, and helped lead the Knights girls cross country team to a state championship. He returned to the college coaching ranks as an assistant in both the cross country and track programs at Oberlin College (1983-1985) and helped guide the women's dalers to the North Coast Atlantic Conference in championship in 1984. From there, Dann moved to the NCAA Division I ranks at Cleveland State University, where he worked as a graduate assistant coach at that institution while completing a master's degree in Exercise Physiology and Sport Psychology.
Before his arrival in Standish, Dann's career included a period as a highly successful coach in the high school ranks. Following his year at Cleveland State, he returned to his alma mater (Oberlin High School) and coached cross country and track for three years. There he helped revive a program that had been dormant for eleven years. He then relocated to coastal Maine, where he enjoyed two stints as head track and field coach at Kennebunk High School. While leading the Rams to strong finishes against both Western Maine Conference and Southwestern Maine Activities Association competition, he also coached six athletes to a combined total of eighteen individual state championships in both running and field disciplines. He also enjoyed a stint at Sacopee Valley High School (Maine), where he coached athletes to individual or relay state championships and berths in the New England Interscholastic Track and Field championship meet.
While at Saint Joseph's College, he has gained a strong reputation for helping his runners improve their performances through a scientific approach to training that focused upon physiology, biomechanics and aerobic capacity. His innovative methodology has resulted in sixteen of his Monks runners earning a combined total of twenty-seven all-conference honors. Committed to his athletes' academic progress, he has also earned widespread respect for his ability to mentor student-athletes.
In addition to his coaching prowess, Dann himself has enjoyed an accomplished career as a runner. As a competitor in road races held throughout New England, he has competed in over 500 races, including five marathons, and earned 120 first place individual finishes in a variety of age group divisions. Between 1972 and 2019, he logged 50,000 miles on roads and trails in both training and competition. In December 2019, members of the Saint Joseph's College track and field program joined him for the final two miles as he approached this milestone, culminating in a celebration at the indoor track at the Harold Alfond Center.
"Tom Dann is a man of impeccable integrity and an inspirational coach whose impact upon his athletes has been profound," observed SJC interim athletic director Gary Stevens. "Saint Joseph's College is blessed to have him serve as a leader in our program for the past three decades; his lasting legacy is his commitment to others."
Dann resides in Hiram, Maine with his wife, the former Terry Gee. He has three daughters - Anissa, Michaela, and Sierra.
Dann will remain on the Saint Joseph's College of Maine athletic staff as an associate coach for both cross country and track and field and as an instructor. He will be succeeded in his role as head cross country coach by former Monks distance runner Troy Hendricks (SJC '22, '24), who competed under his tutelage at both Sacopee Valley and Saint Joseph's and has served as an assistant for the past three seasons.
