Women's Indoor Track & Field
Van Gilder, Joe
Joe Van Gilder
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Phone:
- (203) 582-5032
Van Gilder is entering his sixth season with the Bobcats and his first as Associate Head Coach, working with the sprinters and hurdlers group.
2024
In 2024, Joe helped guide the indoor and outdoor teams to second place finishes in the MAAC and a third-place finish at the New England Indoor Championships. Rylie Smith was named MAAC Indoor Track Most Outstanding Performer. The team boasted four MAAC Indoor Champions:
2023
In 2023, Joe again helped the indoor and outdoor teams secure second place in the MAAC and third place at the New England Indoor Championships. The team had four MAAC Indoor Champions:
In 2022, Joe contributed to the indoor and outdoor teams' second place finishes in the MAAC and their New England Indoor Championship win. Aisha Gay was named MAAC Indoor Track Most Outstanding Performer. The team produced five MAAC Indoor Champions:
In 2021, Joe guided the outdoor team to a second place MAAC finish. Hayden Robinson was named MAAC Outdoor Track Rookie of the Meet. The team had two MAAC Outdoor Champions:
In 2020, Joe helped the indoor team achieve a second place MAAC finish. Tara Zeni set a MAAC meet record in the Long Jump with a distance of 6.24m (20 feet 5.75 inches) and was named Field Most Outstanding Performer and Field Rookie of the Meet. The team had two MAAC Indoor Champions:
Before coaching at Quinnipiac, Joe coached at the University of Hartford as an assistant coach for the men's and women's track and field and cross country teams. At Hartford, Van Gilder served as the sprints, hurdles, and relays coach and oversaw numerous achievements, including an America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete honoree, an NCAA APR Public Recognition Award, and four All-New England honorees.
From fall 2012 through spring 2018, Van Gilder was at SCSU, where he helped the women’s program produce 52 All-Americans, including a national champion indoor 4x400 relay team, and the men’s program produce 23 All-Americans, including one national champion. He was the USTFCCCA East Regional Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year for both indoor and outdoor track in 2014, 2015, and 2016. The men’s team claimed four New England Championships and eight Northeast-10 Conference titles, while the women’s team was the 2015 New England and Northeast-10 Conference Outdoor Champion and placed as runner-up in eight Northeast-10 Championships and the 2014 New England Outdoor Championships.
At the University of Hartford from fall 2010 through spring 2012, Van Gilder initially served as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach in spring 2012. Both programs earned the NCAA APR Public Recognition Award during his tenure. The team had four America East All-Conference honorees and 31 individual All-New England honors, including three New England champions.
Prior to Hartford, Van Gilder spent three years as an assistant coach at Springfield College from fall 2007 through spring 2010. In 2009, he was selected as the USTFCCCA New England Regional Assistant Men’s Coach of the Year and mentored four NCAA National Champions, 25 All-Americans, and numerous All-New England, All-ECAC, and All-Conference selections. Coached 2010 Division 3 National Track and Field Athlete of the Year, Stephen Headley.
Van Gilder also gained experience in strength and conditioning at the University of Massachusetts and Valdosta State University (GA), and as a track and field coach at Enfield, Enrico Fermi (Enfield, CT), and Naugatuck High Schools.
Education and Certifications
As a student-athlete at SCSU, Van Gilder was an All-New England and All-Conference selection in the 4x100 relay and an IC4A qualifier. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from SCSU in 2005, concentrating in human performance, wellness, and nutrition. He then pursued a master’s degree in exercise physiology at Indiana University before transferring to Springfield College, where he graduated in 2010 with an M.Ed. in exercise and applied science, with a concentration in strength and conditioning. He holds certifications from the USTFCCCA, including Jumping Event Specialist, Sprints, Hurdles & Relays Specialist, Combined Event Specialist, Endurance Event Specialist, Strength & Conditioning, and Speed Specialist Certification. He also holds a Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification.
2024
In 2024, Joe helped guide the indoor and outdoor teams to second place finishes in the MAAC and a third-place finish at the New England Indoor Championships. Rylie Smith was named MAAC Indoor Track Most Outstanding Performer. The team boasted four MAAC Indoor Champions:
- 60 meters: Nysasia Dailey
- 200m and 400m: Rylie Smith
- 4x400m Relay: Rylie Smith, Izzie Anzaldo, Syndey Lavelle, Alyssa Romagnoli
- 400m: Rylie Smith
- 400m Hurdles: Sydney Lavelle
- 4x400m Relay: Rylie Smith, Izzie Anzaldo, Syndey Lavelle, Alyssa Romagnoli
2023
In 2023, Joe again helped the indoor and outdoor teams secure second place in the MAAC and third place at the New England Indoor Championships. The team had four MAAC Indoor Champions:
- 400m: Rylie Smith
- 4x400m Relay: Syndey Lavelle, Rylie Smith, Izzie Anzaldo, Alyssa Romagnoli
- 400m: Rylie Smith
In 2022, Joe contributed to the indoor and outdoor teams' second place finishes in the MAAC and their New England Indoor Championship win. Aisha Gay was named MAAC Indoor Track Most Outstanding Performer. The team produced five MAAC Indoor Champions:
- 60 meters: Kalli’ana Botelho
- 200m and 400m: Aisha Gay
- 60m Hurdles: Symone Foster
- 4x400m Relay: Rylie Smith, Aisa Mercier, Britney Del Mundo, Aisha Gay
- 100m and Long Jump: Kalli’ana Botelho
- 200m and 400m: Aisha Gay
- 100m Hurdles: Symone Foster
In 2021, Joe guided the outdoor team to a second place MAAC finish. Hayden Robinson was named MAAC Outdoor Track Rookie of the Meet. The team had two MAAC Outdoor Champions:
- 100m Hurdles: Symone Foster
- 200m: Hayden Robinson
In 2020, Joe helped the indoor team achieve a second place MAAC finish. Tara Zeni set a MAAC meet record in the Long Jump with a distance of 6.24m (20 feet 5.75 inches) and was named Field Most Outstanding Performer and Field Rookie of the Meet. The team had two MAAC Indoor Champions:
- 60m Hurdles: Symone Foster
- 4x400m Relay: Meaghan Scullin, Melissa Solomon, Caitlyn Halloran, Ahmetra Davis
Before coaching at Quinnipiac, Joe coached at the University of Hartford as an assistant coach for the men's and women's track and field and cross country teams. At Hartford, Van Gilder served as the sprints, hurdles, and relays coach and oversaw numerous achievements, including an America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete honoree, an NCAA APR Public Recognition Award, and four All-New England honorees.
From fall 2012 through spring 2018, Van Gilder was at SCSU, where he helped the women’s program produce 52 All-Americans, including a national champion indoor 4x400 relay team, and the men’s program produce 23 All-Americans, including one national champion. He was the USTFCCCA East Regional Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year for both indoor and outdoor track in 2014, 2015, and 2016. The men’s team claimed four New England Championships and eight Northeast-10 Conference titles, while the women’s team was the 2015 New England and Northeast-10 Conference Outdoor Champion and placed as runner-up in eight Northeast-10 Championships and the 2014 New England Outdoor Championships.
At the University of Hartford from fall 2010 through spring 2012, Van Gilder initially served as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach in spring 2012. Both programs earned the NCAA APR Public Recognition Award during his tenure. The team had four America East All-Conference honorees and 31 individual All-New England honors, including three New England champions.
Prior to Hartford, Van Gilder spent three years as an assistant coach at Springfield College from fall 2007 through spring 2010. In 2009, he was selected as the USTFCCCA New England Regional Assistant Men’s Coach of the Year and mentored four NCAA National Champions, 25 All-Americans, and numerous All-New England, All-ECAC, and All-Conference selections. Coached 2010 Division 3 National Track and Field Athlete of the Year, Stephen Headley.
Van Gilder also gained experience in strength and conditioning at the University of Massachusetts and Valdosta State University (GA), and as a track and field coach at Enfield, Enrico Fermi (Enfield, CT), and Naugatuck High Schools.
Education and Certifications
As a student-athlete at SCSU, Van Gilder was an All-New England and All-Conference selection in the 4x100 relay and an IC4A qualifier. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from SCSU in 2005, concentrating in human performance, wellness, and nutrition. He then pursued a master’s degree in exercise physiology at Indiana University before transferring to Springfield College, where he graduated in 2010 with an M.Ed. in exercise and applied science, with a concentration in strength and conditioning. He holds certifications from the USTFCCCA, including Jumping Event Specialist, Sprints, Hurdles & Relays Specialist, Combined Event Specialist, Endurance Event Specialist, Strength & Conditioning, and Speed Specialist Certification. He also holds a Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification.
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