Kean University’s new cross country Head Coach

By Michael LaBella | Published by November 17, 2021

          Kean University’s athletic department announced that the former Essex County VoTech High School Track & Field assistant coach, Danielle Todman, will be the next Head Coach of the men’s and women’s cross country program.

            Todman was convinced to take the position when offered the opportunity to build the team.

“It takes a certain type of person to run cross country,” said Todman. “So if you can teach the people the art of running, you can teach them the art of staying at their pace in life.”

            Todman will prepare and lead both the men’s and women’s teams when they officially resume as varsity sports in the fall of 2022. As of now, Todman will oversee recreational running.

Todman was an athlete herself, as she ran Track & Field at Bucknell University from 2003-2006. She currently holds top 10 records in the 55-meter hurdles and the shutter hurdles relay. She was also named the 2017 Air National Guard Athlete of the Year and is a championship powerlifter.

Being an athlete herself, Todman believes that her experiences will help her communicate with her athletes today.

“The athletes have to understand that when the coaches speak, we speak from experience,” said Todman. “I am a very different coach, I speak from my experience of failures. Because my failures have led me to this point, the low point is the growth point. So you teach your athletes to grow from the lows and as a runner that’s gotten it later, that is what I want to try to instill in my runners.”

            Todman also has prior coaching experience, as she was the Track & Field assistant coach at Essex County VoTech High School. She had the responsibilities of recruiting and maintaining the number of student-athletes and developing and maintaining the skill of the athletes, as well as discipline and integrity during practice and meets. She has experience leading and maintaining a team atmosphere before even coming to Kean according to an NJAC article on Todman.

            “I never deviate from the process,” said Todman. “Plan A is the only plan. I work my process, I trust my process, and the promise is the reward.”

---