Monmouth University Athletics

Monmouth Welcomes Hanna Peterson to Track & Field/Cross Country Coaching Staff

October 16, 2024

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - Monmouth University has announced the hiring of Hanna Peterson as assistant coach for track & field and cross country.

Peterson replaces Damon Godfrey, who was elevated to Acting Head Cross Country/Distance Coach and Associate Head Track and Field Coach in August. The former NCAA Division I student-athlete is expected to focus her efforts on the men's and women's distance programs. She will handle various coaching and recruiting duties for middle and long distance runners on the men's and women's sides.

"I am extremely excited to join such an amazing institution and staff. Monmouth is a tremendous campus that attracts high-level student-athletes who want to be successful both on and off the track, and I'm looking forward to continuing to build their success," said Peterson.

The Hawks have established a standard of excellence over the years across the track & field and cross country programs, totaling 65 conference championship team titles since 1995. This past summer, alumna Allie Wilson advanced to the 800-meter semifinals at the Olympics in Paris. The success extends into the academic arena with Monmouth earning USTFCCCA All-Academic status for both the men's and women's teams last year.

Meanwhile, Peterson brings valuable experience to the Jersey Shore. She competed as a distance runner for the University of Arizona, contributing to the Wildcats' first-ever Pac-12 cross country championship title. After graduating in 2016, she served back-to-back one-year stints as a volunteer assistant coach for UCLA and Air Force. The former general studies major returned to her alma mater in 2018 as assistant track & field and cross country coach.

Peterson eventually moved east to fill the director of operations role at CAA member William & Mary in August 2021. Over a three-year period, multiple Tribe athletes thrived at the conference level under Peterson's watch. She coached two different CAA Rookie of the Year award recipients as well as individual champions indoors and outdoors.

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