Jan Merrill-Morin
Jan Merrill-Morin

Bio

Jan Merrill-Morin enters her second season as head coach of the Mitchell College men's and women's cross country programs in 2018-19. 

A former Olympian and a Mitchell alumna, Merrill-Morin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as both a coach and athlete. She has coached at both the NCAA Division I and III levels—including stops at Rutgers University, Coast Guard Academy and Connecticut College—and spent 18 years as the varsity coach at Waterford High School.

A native of Waterford, Conn., she served as head coach of the cross country and track and field teams at Waterford High School from 1988 to 2006. Her girl’s program won the Class M state title in 1990, and during her tenure she oversaw the development of Liz Mueller, a 10-time New England champion and the 1991 national high school cross country champion.

Merrill-Morin joined the collegiate coaching ranks in 1992 as an assistant at Coast Guard. In 2007 she accepted a position at Rutgers, serving as an assistant cross country and track and field coach for eight seasons. She returned to the New London area in 2015 and most recently served as a volunteer assistant at Connecticut College and the head coach for the boy’s track and field program at Old Saybrook High School.

Merrill-Morin achieved numerous accolades and awards during her running career, which included being a finalist in 1,500-meter at the 1976 Olympics and a gold medalist at the 1975 and 1979 Pan Am Games. She was also a silver medalist at the 1981 World Cross Country Championships, a 14-time National AAU/TAC Champion and a member of 24 United States international teams.

In addition, she is a former world-record holder in the indoor 3,000-meter and two-mile run, as well as the outdoor 5,000-meter. Merrill-Morin also held the American record in the 1,000, 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000-meter.

A 1979 graduate of Connecticut College, Merrill-Morin earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and received her master’s degree in sports science from the United States Sports Academy in 2005. Prior to attending Connecticut College, she completed an associate’s degree at Mitchell in 1977.

 

 

 

 

Meet The Coach
Tim Hoch

Tim Hoch was hired as head coach of the Mitchell College men’s and women’s cross country programs in July 2023.

Hoch will make his collegiate head coaching debut with the Mariners. A runner at both the high school and collegiate level, Hoch spent the 2013 season running cross country as a student-athlete at Mitchell College.

“I’m hoping to bring a positive and supportive approach, implement individualized training plans, team building activities, and a strong emphasis on goal setting and boosting the cross country program for years to come,” Hoch said in a statement.

During his lone season with the Mariners, Hoch competed in all eight events and led the team at one event. He finished 13th at the Wesleyan Invitational and led the team at the Elms Invitational where he placed 58th overall. A one-time NECC Rookie of the Week that season, Hoch recorded his fastest time on an 8k course at the Connecticut College Invitational. While at Mitchell, he was also a member of the men’s basketball program for one year.

“I’m thrilled that Tim Hoch has agreed to be our new men’s and women’s cross country coach and confident that he will bring the same passion and work ethic directing this program as he did when he was a student athlete,” commented Associate Athletic Director and former cross country head coach, Todd Peretz. “Tim’s personality and communication skills will help him to guide and mentor our men and women while also being a valuable tool in the recruiting process.”

Following his year at Mitchell, Hoch was a three year letterwinner on the men’s basketball team at SUNY Maritime College, where he was one of just two Privateers to start in all 25 of the team’s games during his senior season, and was second on the team in scoring with 374 points. After obtaining his BA in Global Business at Maritime, Hoch went on to earn an MA in Leadership/Management from Waldorf University.

A native of Fishers Island, N.Y., Hoch has also served as head coach of the boys’ basketball team at Fishers Island School. In this role he led and managed the high school basketball program and played a pivotal role in developing student-athletes both on and off the court. As the head coach, he designed and implemented practice plans, developed game strategies, and provided skill instruction to players.

Hoch currently resides in Waterford, Connecticut.

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