NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Victoria M. "Vicky" Chun, Thomas A. Beckett Director of Athletics has announced that Courtney Jaworski will be Yale's next Mark T. Young '68 Director of Cross Country and Track & Field. His appointment makes him the third-ever individual to hold the director role.

Jaworski, an Ivy League and NEWMAC Coach of the Year, comes to New Haven from Smith College where he has served as the Pioneers' Director of Cross Country and Head Track & Field Coach since May 2021.  

"I couldn't be more excited for Courtney to take the reins of our men's and women's cross country, and track and field programs," said Chun. "His track record as an Ivy League student-athlete and coach speaks volumes, and I have no doubt that his winning mindset will pave the way for success at Yale. Courtney's dedication to enhancing the student-athlete experience, coupled with his proven record of success, will undoubtedly propel the Yale program to new heights."

Jaworski brings a plethora of successful experiences as both a head coach and as a former Ivy League student-athlete.  At Smith, he and his staff made an immediate impact being named the 2022 NEWMAC Coaching Staff of the Year and placing second at the NEWMAC Cross Country Championships.

Under Jaworski's tutelage, Smith's team appearance at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in 2021, finishing 29^th, was the first in 30 years for the program, having last appeared in 1991. Their 2022 appearance, finishing 27^th, marked the first time the Pioneers had qualified as a team for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in back-to-back years since 1987 to 1990.

In 2022 and 2023, Jaworski had two individuals place in the top-15 of their event at the NCAA Track & Field National Championships. Smith long distance runner Laurel Kruger also won both the 5K and the 10K at the NEWMAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2022.

Under the direction of Jaworski, this past season, Pria Parker finished sixth in the mile run at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships as well as Lyda Martin winning the mile run at the New England Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

In addition to his two stints at Smith, Jaworski spent time at Dartmouth as the head coach of the women's cross-country program and associate head coach of the women's track and field team from 2014 to 2021. With the Big Green, he was the 2014 Ivy League Cross Country Coach of the Year and helped them to three NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship appearances in 2014, 2017 and 2018. In addition, he coached three All-Americans, 12 First Team and 11 Second Team All-Ivy League performers, 12 cross country all-region honorees and 26 NCAA Qualifiers in his eight years in Hanover.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and member of the cross country and track & field programs, Jaworski earned a degree in political science in 2006, while amassing multiple major awards. Those accolades include both All-America and All-Region recognition, eight Ivy League titles, and four-straight years of Academic All-Ivy honors. In addition, Jaworski was named USTFCCCA Outdoor Track & Field East Region Athlete of the Year and received two Ivy League Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year honors. He went on to earn a master's degree in exercise science and sport studies from Smith in 2013.

"I'd like to express my gratitude to Vicky [Chun] and Ann-Marie [Guglieri] for extending me the opportunity to lead Yale's track & field and cross country programs," said Jaworski. "Yale is an incredibly distinctive and celebrated global institution, and its athletics arm offers student-athletes unparalleled resources to succeed. I look forward to working with the team, redefining possibilities and creating an inspired environment with the help of administration, support staff and members of the Yale Track & Field and Cross Country Association."

His impressive resume extends beyond the collegiate space to both the professional and international levels. He competed for Nike's premier Olympic development distance and middle-distance team, Oregon Track Club Elite where he won the 2007 Penn Relays USA vs. World DMR and placed seventh in the mile at the 2007 USA Indoor Track & Field National Championships. Jaworski also qualified for the 2004 United States Olympic Trials and competed for the United States as part of the World Youth Games.

Prior to Dartmouth, he spent a year as the head coach of the track & field and cross country programs at Manhattanville College, and was an assistant coach for both cross country and track & field at the University of Puget Sound from 2009 to 2011.