WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – In a ceremony held on Sunday afternoon at Kessler Stadium, the outdoor track at Monmouth University was dedicated in honor of longtime Director and Head Coach of Cross Country and Track and Field, Joe Compagni. Over 250 former athletes, family, teammates, trustees and friends attended the celebration in honor of one of the most successful collegiate track coaches in the Northeast.
 
"Joe's accomplishments are well known," Monmouth University President Patrick F. Leahy said. "I challenge you to find a coach in this sport or any other sport that can claim such a record as [60 Coach of the Year honors in 24 years]. For that reason, it's abundantly clear that this dedication should happen. But to me, that is not the most important reason to dedicate this track. To me, the most fitting reason that we should rededicate this track in Joe's honor is because of the influence he had on so many men and women here at Monmouth. It brings me great pride to name this track in honor of the life and legacy of our dear colleague and friend, Joe Compagni."
 
Compagni had a sensational 24-year run as Director and Head Coach of the cross country and track and field programs from his first year in 1995 to his retirement in 2019. The men's and women's cross country and track and field teams won a total of 58 conference titles in both the NEC and MAAC under Compagni's watch as he helped build and grow the programs into what they have become today.
 
Compagni was named NEC, MAAC, and NCAA Regional Coach of the Year 60 times – 29 times in the NEC, 23 times in the MAAC, and 8 times as a USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. He was also named one of the 25 Most Influential People in New Jersey Running in 2015. Dating back to 2001, Monmouth track & field athletes earned 25 NCAA Division I All-America honors with Compagni at the helm, which was the most of any sport on campus.
 
His influence also extended to the classroom, where hundreds of his student-athletes received recognition from the NEC, MAAC, and USTFCCCA for their strong academic performances. Compagni oversaw over 30 cross country teams and over 20 track and field teams that earned All-Academic nods from the USTFCCCA.
 
"It is very evident that Coach Joe has touched so many by just today's turnout," said Monmouth's Director of Athletics, Jeff Stapleton. "You are not going to find a better person and coach than Coach Joe. Joe's vision that he expressed to us back in 1995 came to life. What you all see today is totally Joe Compagni. This is the house that Joe built. Joe was a true leader. He taught us so much during his time on-campus. I'm so happy that we're able to dedicate this track in [Compagni's] honor today."
 
"Today means a lot, and of course it means a lot to me, but it means a lot to my family, it means a lot to my alums, I think it means a lot to a lot of people at the school," said Compagni. "Just to have track and field recognized this way is such a beautiful thing. I'm super grateful. I don't like it to be about me, I don't want it to be about me, and I had to wrap my head around the fact that maybe it was a little bit about me. I'm so glad that there are so many people here and that it could be about them coming together and us having a special day to celebrate track."
 
Monmouth's track and field teams will compete this upcoming weekend at the MAAC Championships. In a streak that began during Compagni's tenure, both the men and women will enter the competition as seven-time defending champions.