Staff Directory
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
Seton Hall University graduate Jacob Simon '18, a rising star in cross country coaching who has built up a wealth of experience up and down the Atlantic coast, was named the Pirates Head Men's & Women's Cross Country Coach on May 13, 2025. Simon, who has collegiate coaching experience at the University of Florida, New Jersey City University and Fairleigh Dickinson University, came back to his alma mater after coaching the 2024-25 season at Southern New Hampshire University, where he was the Head Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track & Field Coach.
Simon, a native of Freehold, N.J., and graduate of Freehold Township High School, ran Cross Country for the Pirates from 2014-18 and now is the successor to his Seton Hall coach, the legendary John Moon, who retired on June 1, 2025, after 53 incredible years of service at the University.
During his first season leading the Pirates, both the men’s and women’s teams reached unprecedented heights. The men won their first ever Metropolitan Cross County Championship in program history, following the steps of the women who achieved that feat for their first time in the year prior. The men also scored their lowest point total in program history at the Big East XC Championships, while the women scored their lowest total since 2018. On the track, he coached Paige Quigley to an All-Time School Record in the outdoor 5000 meters, a record that was previously set back in 1989. Academically, the men and women were USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recipients, an award given to the teams who have competed at the NCAA Regional meet with a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or higher at the end of the season.
At Southern New Hampshire in 2024-25, Simon oversaw all aspects of the men's and women's cross country programs, including developing student-athlete specific distance training programs. His men's team posted an impressive performance at the Paul Short Run, finishing second out of twenty-two teams with one of his athletes winning the 8k race. His women's team finished second out of eleven teams at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship and produced multiple All-Conference runners. He had two athletes qualify for the 2024 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship held in Sacramento, CA. One of his athletes also won the NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete Award, which recognizes the student-athlete with the highest GPA at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90+ championships across Division I, II, and III.
Prior to Southern New Hampshire, Simon was the Assistant Cross Country/Track & Field Coach at the University of Florida from 2021-24, assisting in all aspects of the men's and women's programs. He helped the Gators women's cross country team post one of the best seasons in school history, winning the 2023 SEC Championship and placing fifth at the NCAA Championship, where one of his athletes won the individual title. In addition to the cross country success, Simon was on staff at Florida for four national championships as the Gators captured the 2022 NCAA Women's Indoor and Outdoor titles and the 2022 and 2023 NCAA Men's Outdoor titles.
Simon began his collegiate coaching career as a student assistant during the 2019 season at his graduate alma mater, FDU, before moving to NJCU, where he was the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach.
As a student-athlete at Seton Hall, he was a three-time selection to the BIG EAST All-Academic team and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social & Behavioral Sciences from Seton Hall in 2018.
Simon went on to earn his Master of Sports Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2020 and competed for the Knights track & field team in 2018-19, earning Northeast Conference All-Academic team honors.
He is married to Isabella Whelan, who also ran Cross Country for the Pirates from 2016-2020, and they have three daughters, Alba, Campbell, and Briar.
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What They're Saying About Seton Hall Head Cross Country Coach Jacob Simon
"Jake is a former runner of mine whose dedication to the sport will make him hungry to win. As a young, up-and-coming coach, he has a wide view of sports and an even wider view of athlete development. With that experience and knowledge, he can build upon and expand the system and legacy I built at Seton Hall."
- Retiring Seton Hall Head Cross Country Coach and Hall of Famer John Moon
"Seton Hall made a great hire!! Jake Simon is an incredibly talented coach and a student of the sport that brings a high level of enthusiasm, passion, and knowledge of the sport. I have no doubt Coach Simon will pour his heart and soul into the team. I look forward to watching Coach Simon and Seton Hall flourish and grow as the years go on."
- Chris Solinsky, Assistant Coach at Oregon, Former Assistant Coach at Florida and Former American 10,000 Meter Record Holder
"We are extremely proud and equally excited for the opportunity that Jake has to lead his alma mater in cross country. Jake is a passionate young coach who will bring and incredible workout ethic to practice everyday."
- Mike Holloway, Head Track & Field/Cross Country at the University of Florida
