East Stroudsburg University
Koehler Fieldhouse
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
(570) 422-3642
(570) 422-3306 (Fax)
Director
Intercollegiate Athletics
Tom Gioglio
(570) 422-3642
Director
Sports Information
Greg Knowlden
gknowlden@
po-box.esu.edu
(570) 422-3312
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Joe KochContact Coach Koch
E-mail: jkoch@po-box.esu.edu
Phone: (570) 422-3054
Joe Koch is in his 18th year as head men's track and field coach at East Stroudsburg University. The 2006-07 season marks his 21st year overall at ESU.
Koch shared dual responsibilities for both the men's and women's track and field programs for 17 years before turning the reigns of the women's program over to longtime assistant coach Chris Merli this year. He had served as head women's coach since 1987 and began his tenure at ESU in 1986, a year after coming to the school as a graduate assistant coach.
Koch's athletes have enjoyed a tremendous amount of success over the past two decades. The track program has produced 25 All-Americans, including Leslie Martin, who placed fifth in the high jump at the 2007 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. High jumper and current assistant coach Karen (Way) Gaita is the Warriors' one national champion under Koch, winning the title in 1991.
Koch was chosen as the NCAA Women's Regional Coach of the Year and the ECAC Division II Co-Women's Coach of the Year in 2002. He was the ECAC Men's Coach of the Year in 1990 when his squad won the ECAC indoor championships.
The Hackensack, N.J. native ran track and field and cross country for four years at the University of Delaware and was captain of the Blue Hens' cross country team in 1979. Koch lives in East Stroudsburg with his wife Deborah, son Matthew Edward (13) and daughter Kristen Joann (11).
Chris MerliContact Coach Merli
E-mail: cmerli@po-box.esu.edu
Phone: (570) 422-3249
Chris Merli is in his first year as head women's track and field coach at ESU after spending the previous 10 seasons as the top assistant under head coach Joe Koch.
At practices, Merli works primarily with the sprinters, hurdlers and long and triple jumpers. His athletes have broken numerous school records, won conference titles and qualified for the nationals during his decade on the staff. Merli also takes care of all the equipment and facilities needs for the team. He organizes the home meets in Koehler Fieldhouse and Eiler-Martin Stadium and hires and supervises officials and other meet personnel.
Merli has earned USA Track and Field Level II certification. He was a former head track and field coach at Red Bank, N.J. Catholic High School and an assistant at Pocono Mountain High School. He ran on an ACC championship team at Maryland. Merli and his wife, Theresa, have been married 32 years and have four children.
Karen GaitaA former NCAA high jump champion, Karen (Way) Gaita is regarded as one of the nation's most knowledgeable jumping coaches. She is in her 10th season as an assistant coach at ESU. She was also an assistant coach at Army.
Gaita's jumpers have earned PSAC titles in four of the last seven years, and high jumper Mike Newhard has been a two-time Division II All-American. Leslie Martin was an All-American in the high jump at the 2007 Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Gaita won the high jump at the 1991 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field championships with a leap of 5-9. She finished second in the 1991 NCAA indoor and 1990 outdoor meets. She tied for fifth in the 1980 indoor meet. She also won three PSAC and five ECAC titles. She holds the PSAC record at 5-8 1/2 and is the ESU record holder at 5-10 outdoors and 5-9 1/4 indoors. She qualified for the 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic trials and has a career best of 6-1 1/4.
Gaita is a teacher in the Easton School District. She and her husband, Brian, have three daughters - Aspen (10), Riley (7)
and Giana (5).
James MorrisonJames Morrison is in his seventh year as an assistant track and field coach at East Stroudsburg University.
His responsibilities include working with the Warriors' throwers and
multi-event athletes. He has coached ESU All-American javelin throwers Barry Krammes and Dan Gale, and has also coached PSAC shot put
champion Amanda Sines. Krammes is pursuing a spot on the 2008 U.S.
Olympic Team.
At Manhattan, Morrison was a two-time Metropolitan Intercollegiate
champion in the 35-pound weight throw and was also an IC4A qualifier.
He was captain of the track team in 1982.
Morrison has continued his career as a thrower in Master's competitions
and teaches physical education in Hackettstown High School in
Hackettstown, N.J. He and his wife Mary reside in Dingman's Ferry, Pa.
and have three children - William (21), Erin (18) and Mary Kate (17).
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