Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University Department of Athletics has announced that beginning this winter, both the men's and women's track programs will have their own independent coaching staffs. 
 
"This is an exciting time for both our track programs and this opportunity will allow us to take a big step forward in building competitive teams to compete nationally," stated Director of Athletics Rob Chesney.
 
Ian Carter and his staff will continue to lead the men's program and will be looking to improve on an impressive third place finish in the New Jersey Athletic Conference last year. On the women's side, Montclair will welcome a new coaching staff led by Peter Tuohy and assisted by Jocelyn Anderson, Lia (Negra) Kessler, Stephanie Eastman, Rich O'Connor and Aaliyah Walker.
 
"I am confident that we have two excellent coaching staffs in place that will provide an outstanding student athlete experience for both the men and women," explained Chesney.
 
Tuohy joins Montclair after coaching stints at Ramapo College, Bergen Catholic and IHHS where he has been named the Big North Conference Coach of the Year twice. He also won a cross-country county title with both the boys and girls teams twice and notched a county championship with both sides.  A 2015 graduate of Ramapo College with a Bachelor's in Engineering Physics, he was named First Team All-NJAC in cross country and a four-time Second Team All-NJAC selection during his track career. Tuohy was runner-up in the mile and 800-meter at the 2014-15 NJAC Indoor Championships and was second in the 1,500 at the 2015 NJAC Outdoor Championships. The Bergen County native holds the Ramapo College school record in the distance medley relay (10:00.18) and finished ninth in the DMR at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Additionally, Tuohy won an ECAC Championship in the mile and is third all-time at Ramapo in the mile (4:15.06).
 
"I am really excited to be in this position, to take over a program that is part of a university with so much to offer," Tuohy expressed. "As a former Division III athlete myself, I know that there are so many opportunities for student-athletes in the sport of track and field, and my staff and I plan to build on that here."
 
A 2018 Montclair State University graduate, Anderson will assist with the sprinters, jumpers, and hurdlers in her role. A two-time NJAC Champion in the 60-meter hurdles during the 2015 and 2017 indoor campaigns. The 2014-15 NJAC Indoor Track & Field Rookie of the Year, Anderson holds the Montclair school record for 60-meter hurdles (8.93) and 60-meter dash (8.12). She qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2018, placing 13th in the 60-meter hurdles. A Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society member, Anderson was a two-time First Team All-NJAC and two-time Second Team All-NJAC selection.
 
Kessler, who will focus on the throwers, graduated from Montclair with a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science. She qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018 and was an All-American in 2016 (Eighth place) and 2017 (Sixth place). Kessler won the NJAC Championship in the javelin in 2016, 2017, and 2018 and competed at the prestigious Penn Relays in the javelin. In addition to her role as assistant coach, she is a fitness professional at Lifetime Fitness in Florham Park, NJ.
 
Eastman will join Kessler as a throws coach and graduated from Montclair in 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. She was a throwing and strength and conditioning coach at Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell, NJ, and graduated from Union Catholic High School. As a member of the Red Hawks, Eastman competed in the shot put, discus, hammer throw, and weight throw.
 
O'Connor, who brings tremendous experience and will work primarily with the sprinters, jumpers, and hurdlers, has been an assistant coach with Tuohy since 2021 and was the Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach at Mount Saint Dominic Academy from 2014-2020. At Mount Saint Dominic, O'Connor had numerous student-athletes break school records while qualifying for high-profile meets, such as the NJSIAAA Meet of Championships and national meets. A student-athlete at Stockton, O'Connor received All-NJAC laurels in the 4x800 while qualifying for the ECAC Championships.