Matt Ciociola recently completed his second season as head men's and women's cross country coach at Arcadia University in 2016. He was named the first head coach in the new era of the cross country programs in February 2015 after a 10-year hiatus for both teams.
Both squads had a strong first campaign in 2015, which included a top-five finish for both teams in their debut at the Delaware Valley Invitational; the women’s team placed third of nine teams, while the men’s team placed fifth of nine. That early success would continue throughout the season for both teams.
The women’s team went on to record three more top-10 finishes during the regular season, placing 7th of 15 at Misericordia’s Cougar Classic, 10th of 18 at Dickinson’s Long/Short Course Invitational and 10th of 17 at the DeSales Invitational. Arcadia then placed 10th of 15 teams at the 2015 MAC Championship and 34th of 50 teams at the 2015 NCAA Division III Mideast Region Championship.
The men’s program recorded a pair of top-10 finishes during its inaugural regular season, finishing 10th of 15 teams at the Misericordia Cougar Classic and 10th of 17 at the DeSales Invitational. The Knights went on to place 12th of 16 teams at the 2015 MAC Championship and 49th of 52 teams at the NCAA Division III Mideast Region Championship to cap their inaugural season.
Despite having to replace four of its top-five performers from that first season, the women’s program was able to avoid a “sophomore slump” as it recorded three straight top-10 finishes to open 2016, highlighted by a runner-up finish at Cairn’s Highlander Invitational. The Knights went on to finish 11th of 16 teams at the 2016 MAC Championship and 38th of 51 at the NCAA regional.
The men’s team remained mostly in tact from its first season to its second, and matched the women’s three top-10 finishes to open 2016. Arcadia’s top showing was fourth-place finish at Cairn’s Highlander Invitational during the year, which was capped off by the Knights placing 12th of 16 teams at the 2016 MAC Championship and went on the placed 43rd of 52 at the NCAA regional. .
Ciociola came to Arcadia after spending the last eight years as the head boys cross country/track and field and assistant girls track and field coach at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in nearby Pennsauken, N.J. He guided the cross country team to back-to-back state championships in 2010 and 2011, and had his first-ever Footlocker Cross Country National Championship qualifier in 2014, who also recorded the ninth-fasted time in the history of the NJSIAA Meet of Champions. A total of three runners earned All-South Jersey honors in cross country during his tenure.
Ciociola coached a number of successful athletes in track and field distance events, including 15 individual national qualifiers, four national qualifying relay teams, and one All-American in the 5,000 meter at the 2011 indoor national championships. He coached four state individual champions, 26 NJSIAA Meet of Champions qualifiers, and led the team to state indoor and outdoor South Jersey titles in 2011. He’s also guided two relays and one individual qualifier for the Penn Relays.
Ciociola also serves as an assistant coach at ETA Coach, LLC, where he works with post-collegiate athletes in endurance events and triathlons, and is on the staff at the Hawk Harrier Cross Country Camp.
A native of Blackwood, N.J., Ciociola was a member of the cross country and track and field teams at NCAA Division I Rider University, where he helped lead the Broncs to a pair of fourth-place finishes at the MAAC Championships. He has continued to compete following the conclusion of his collegiate career, and was a 2014 Half Ironman World Championship qualifier.
Ciociola earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and chemistry at Rider in 2006 and a master’s degree in curriculum, instruction and supervision at Rider in 2011. He completed his USATF Level 1 certification in 2009, his USATF Level 2 Endurance certification in 2010, and his USATF Super Distance certification in 2011.
Updated 12/07/2016
