FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Vice President for Athletics Paul Schlickmann announced on Thursday the hiring of Jake Duckworth as Head Coach of Men's and Women's Cross Country. A Nutmeg State native, Duckworth will make his collegiate head coaching debut after four years of private coaching experience and a successful career as a Division I student-athlete.

"I am excited to welcome Jake to our Stags family as the new leader of our Men's and Women's Cross Country programs," said Schlickmann on Duckworth's hiring. "Jake impressed me immediately in the search process with his intentional pursuit of a career in coaching and his intuitive understanding of our Jesuit values and Athletics cultural commitments.  The combination of Jake's experience as an accomplished Division I student-athlete, his educational preparation, and his previous coaching success will serve him well in this new role.  His positive energy and thoughtful approach will help our student-athletes in their journey to become the best version of themselves while enjoying a successful experience."

"I am eager to join the Fairfield University community and looking forward to working with both teams," said Duckworth. "Thank you to Paul and the rest of the Fairfield Athletics Department for their support and care during this process. I am excited to share my passion for running and support the team's goals this fall and beyond."

Duckworth has been a coach and team member of the New Haven Road Runners (NHRR) since March of 2020, developing training programs for the team and representing the team at the USATF-CT Road Grand Prix. In addition to his work with the NHRR, he has also spent the last four years as a private coach in the New Haven area, developing individualized training programs for athletes of varying backgrounds.

"As a private coach and coach of New Haven Road Runners, I have had the opportunity to work with athletes with a wide array of goals and backgrounds in distance running," said Duckworth. "I am excited to bring this experience to the collegiate level to help Fairfield's athletes succeed on the cross country course."

A 2017 graduate of Fordham University, Duckworth was a four-year member of the Rams' cross country and track & field teams, where he earned a number of accolades including a two-time Cross Country IC4A University Division Team Champion in 2013 and 2014, and a two-time Cross Country Metropolitan Team Champion in 2014 and 2015. He was also named IC4A All-East Cross Country and Metropolitan Champion in the 10,000m, claiming both in 2016. Coaching has been in Duckworth's veins for years, having spent time in high school and college as a coach at the Masuk baseball camp.

Duckworth is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Exercise Science from Southern Connecticut State University.