Cross Country

BENNINGTON, Vt. - Joe Catania became part of the SVC community in March of 2008. He was hired as the head men's & women's cross country coach and the Director of Compliance. He brings over 30 years of coaching experience at all educational levels. He has coached Olympic trial and NCAA Championship qualifiers. 

"We're extremely pleased that Joe has accepted the position of head men's & women's cross country coach," said Southern Vermont College Director of Athletics Benjamin Kozik. "The search process took a long time and there were many deserving applicants, but Joe's experience and devotion stood out among all the rest."

 "I think SVC and Joe Catania are a perfect Match."

Catania comes to Southern Vermont College from East Carolina University (ECU), where his men's cross team had the highest Conference USA finish in school history and his women's program reached Academic All-American status for two seasons.

 "I appreciate everything that everyone has done to make me feel welcome here at SVC especially Ben Kozik," said Catania. "I am grateful to the college for allowing me to renew my coaching career. I accept the challenge to rebuild the program through tireless recruiting. Over time the goal is to build the cross country program to a quality that we are all proud to be associated with."

Prior to ECU he has coached on the collegiate level at Florida International University (FIU), Indiana State University and Illinois State University. Catania's teams have been littered with accomplishments. He has developed 98 all-conference performers in track and field and cross country. He was the NCAA Division II South Region Coach of the Year in 1984.

Catania has coached eight National Football League players and one individual who participated in the 2004 Olympic Trials. In addition, he has coached 10 NCAA National qualifiers, four United States of America Track and Field (USATF) Junior National qualifiers, and three All-Americans. 

When he's not coaching he works as an official for track and field meets. Catania has had the distinguished privilege of working the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. He has also worked the NCAA National Championships, the Pan-American Games and the USATF National Championships.

He established himself as one of the best developers of talent in the nation. Catania was an outstanding runner at Millersville University where he competed in both track and cross country. As a post-collegiate runner he ran a mile in 4:08.