Head Coach Jonathan Hird

Entering the 2006-07 season, Jon Hird has been part of the coaching staff at UMass Dartmouth for 20 seasons. He serves as the men’s and women’s cross country coach during the Fall, and as an assitant coach for the indoor track and field team during Winter and outdoor track and field coach in the Spring.

After nine successful years as the head women’s cross country and track and field coach at Brown University, where he initiated both programs, Jon Hird came to UMass Dartmouth in 1988.  Hird took over the reins of the men’s and women’s cross country and track teams from long-time head coach Bob Dowd

While at Brown, Hird’s teams produced 32 Ivy League champions and set 14 Ivy League records.  His 1978 team won an Ivy League title and his 1979 squad won the New England championships.  In 1984, Hird had two relay teams ranked nationally.  Six of his athletes and one of his relay teams qualified for the NCAA Division I Nationals.

At UMass Dartmouth, Hird has continued to demonstrate success with his teams.   Overseeing both the men’s and women’s cross country and track teams, his athletes and teams have been consistently present at the NCAA Division III championships. 

Under Hird’s guidance the men’s cross country team has finished second in New England twice, and has won the Little East Conference championship ten times.  The women’s cross country squad has won five Little East Conference cross country championships, and the women’s track and field squads have finished fourth twice in New England Division III competition. Overall, the programs have produced 10 All-Americas and 18 NCAA qualifiers.

Hird is a 1973 honors graduate of Middlebury College (Vermont) where he captained the cross country team.  He holds a Masters Degree in education from Brown University.

Call the coach: (508) 999-8725
Email the coach: JHird@umassd.edu