Joe Sweeney

Head Coach

Joe Sweeney can also be reached at 651-962-5914 or at: jvsweeney@stthomas.edu

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Joe Sweeney has built one of NCAA Division III's most successful cross country and track and field programs. The 2009-2010 school year will be his 30th season as St. Thomas head coach for women's cross country/track and field. He's one of the few collegiate coaches who have won more than 60 conference team championships.

Sweeney was named the 1995 National Coach of the Year in track and field, and he's been honored as MIAC Coach of the Year several times. A Chicago, Ill., native, Sweeney was a standout distance runner for the Tommies in the late 1970s and was elected into the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame.

Joe and wife Kathleen and their five children reside in New Brighton.

Besides the St. Thomas successes in CC and on the track, Sweeney's teams have been excellent students and active members of the campus scene.

The UST achievements under Sweeney's guidance include:
 
--25 individual national championships (two in cross country, 23 in track & field)

--16 top-7 national team finishes in cross country (five championships, five runner-up finishes)

--The lone Minnesota university to win an NCAA women's track relay championship (4x100 in 1997)

--More than 140 All-American honors in cross country and track & field

--6 CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, 3 NCAA Postgraduate Scholars

--Top-5 national team placings in cross country, indoor and outdoor track 27 of a possible 83 times

--UST has had a cross country All-American or a team in the national meet 25 out of 29 seasons

--63 MIAC team championships out of 81 contested in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. That includes 22 of 25 in indoor track; 25 of 28 in outdoor track; and 16 of 28 in cross country

--Three impressive MIAC consecutive team championship streaks -- 14, outdoor track (1985-98); 9, indoor track (1989-97); and 9, cross country (1981-89). The Toms have swept the MIAC "triple crown" for CC, indoor and outdoor track titles titles in 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09.

--The top individual finisher in five of the last 13 conference cross country meets