EAST STROUDSBURG – Justin Germani has been named the interim head coach of East Stroudsburg University's men's cross country, women's cross country and men's track & field programs, as announced by ESU Director of Athletics Dr. Gary Gray on Thursday. The appointment comes following longtime Head Coach Joe Koch's retirement announcement earlier this week.
 
"It is my pleasure to announce Justin Germani has agreed to accept our offer to serve as interim head men's and women's cross country coach and interim head men's track and field coach," said Gray. "Coach Germani has done an excellent job as an assistant coach, and he will not miss a beat moving into this interim head role. Our student-athletes know, respect, and admire Justin, and I am confident he will work hard and be successful in his new duties."
 
Germani has been with ESU as an assistant coach since 2016 and has helped lead the men's track & field team to top-three finishes at the PSAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships in each season since his arrival. The Warriors placed runner-up at the 2019 and 2020 Indoor Championships, which matched the program's best-ever finish at the meet. Germani also helped guide the women's team to a third-place finish at the 2018 Indoor Championships, marking the team's best placing since 2014.
 
"It is an absolute honor to step in as ESU's head men's and women's cross country and men's track and field coach to continue to serve our Warrior student-athletes," said Germani. "I will do everything in my power to carry on the successful and competitive tradition that Dick DeSchriver, Joe Koch, and Chris Merli created over the past 50 years. I would like to thank Dr. Gray for the opportunity, as well as Joe Koch and Quanette Ford for their support and mentorship throughout my years serving as an assistant coach."
 
During his time at ESU, Germani has coached 13 All-PSAC honorees, including two PSAC Individual Champions. He's also coached the ESU record holder in the women's long jump both indoor and outdoor (Aspen Gaita), as well as the school record holder in the men's heptathlon (Austin Horner).
 
"Coach Germani's tremendous knowledge and work habits will make for a smooth transition and there will be much success in the future of ESU cross country and track & field," commented Koch.
 
Germani, a 2011 Kutztown University graduate, was a two-time NCAA Division II national qualifier, and earned All-America honors with a seventh-place finish at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
 
After graduating from Kutztown, Germani began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach at Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania. During his two seasons with the Golden Wolves, he coached a four-time NCAA qualifier and All-American in the pole vault, as well as four Middle Atlantic Conference Champions. His pole vaulters set school records on both the men's and women's sides.
 
Germani moved on to Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts as an assistant coach from 2013-16. In three seasons at Williams, he worked with four NCAA Division III qualifiers, including two All-Americans and two NESCAC Champions. His vertical jumpers helped Williams capture a pair of conference championships and three top-10 NCAA team finishes.
 
Germani has extensive experience as a camp clinician, working at East Stroudsburg, Princeton, Williams, Shippensburg, West Chester and Kutztown. He also has a USTFCCCA jumping event specialist certification and a strength and conditioning specialist certification.
 
Germani earned a bachelor's degree in sport management from Kutztown in 2011, and went on to earn a master's in sport management from California (Pa.) in 2013.