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Joe Dare

Joe Dare

Joe Dare took over as Gwynedd Mercy University's head men's and women's cross country coach prior to the 2019 season. He also took the reigns of the Griffins' men and women's track and field programs in spring of 2020. Prior to Gwynedd Mercy University, Coach Dare served as the head women's cross country and assistant men's and women's track coach at Stockton University.

In his first full season at the helm of the Gwynedd Mercy University men's and women's cross country programs, Coach Dare respectively directed the Griffins to second-place (2nd of 6, 65 points) and third-place (3rd of 7, 85 points) finishes at the 2021 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Cross Country Championships. Five Griffins finished with All-AEC times; Thomas Balla '23 (1st Team, 6th; 29:54.2), Sean Morris '23 (2nd Team, 12th; 31:13.9), Alicia Bennett '23 (2nd Team, 10th; 27:49.0), Siobhan McShea '22 (2nd Team, 11th; 27:50.6), and Keely Greene '23 (2nd Team, 14th; 29:11.1). Under his leadership, the Gwynedd Mercy University men's (3rd of 5, 79 points) and women's (3rd of 5; 118 points) track and field teams were equally successful, both garnering third-place finishes at the 2022 AEC Track & Field Championships. The Griffins provided several All-AEC performances (Branden Soubik '24; 200-Meter (1st Team, 1st; 23.84), 400-Meter (1st Team, 1st; 51.87), 100-Meter (2nd Team, 2nd; 11.45./Matt LoStracco '22; Decathlon (1st Team, 1st; 2,416.0 points)/Kevin Johnston '23; Decathlon (2nd Team, 2nd; 2,148.0 points)/Siobhan McShea '22; 400-Meter Hurdles (1st Team, 1st; 1:08.65), Heptathlon (1st Team, 1st; 2,891.0), 400-Meter (2nd Team, 2nd; 1:04.07), 4x400-Meter Relay (2nd Team, 2nd; 4:31.71)/Keely Greene '23; 4x400-Meter Relay (2nd Team, 2nd; 4:31.71), 10,000-Meter (2nd Team, 2nd; 46:29.61)/Natalie O'Neill '24; 4x400-Meter Relay (2nd Team, 2nd; 4:31.71), Heptathlon (2nd Team, 2nd, 2,201.0 points)/Jenna Clarency; 4x400-Meter Relay (2nd Team, 2nd; 4:31.71)/Kristen Dougher '23; 3,000-Meter Steeplechase (2nd, 13:52.18)) including AEC Women's Track Athlete of the Year (McShea '22) and AEC Men's Track Athlete and Rookie of the Year (Soubik '24). McShea - who was named the Gwynedd Mercy University Female Senior Athlete of the Year - also garnered recognition on the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Team, Philadelphia Area Sports Information Directors Association (Philly-SIDA) All-Area Women's Track and Field Team (June 17), the 2022 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Outdoor Track & Field All-Region Team, and a nomination for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Woman of the Year award. 

Coach Dare tutored jumper Elijah Rizzo to an All-American season in 2020 as the Gwynedd Mercy University sophomore's 2.05-meter High Jump garnered him the sixth such United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) laurel in program history. His programs provided Gwynedd Mercy University's Male and Female Senior Athletes of the Year as well as the Donahue-Elliot Award in 2020. During his short time at Gwynedd Mercy University, he has coached 31 student-athletes to All-AEC First or Second Team honors. 

Throughout his two years at Stockton University, he was head of recruiting and organized all home track meets. He coached the university's first ever All-American women's cross-country student-athlete and 30 All-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) runners. He led his team to seven school records, totaling their best finish in school history while a member of the Atlantic Region. Coach Dare worked two-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) DIII Triple Jump National Champion Jared Lewis and a 2.11-meter High Jumper. 

Prior to Stockton University, Coach Dare was the head coach for the men's and women's cross-country teams at Cabrini University for three years. During his tenure with the Cavaliers, he coached four all-conference runners and led the men's team to their best finish since 2008. Coach Dare also coached at the NCAA Division I level as a two-year sprint and distance volunteer at St. Joseph’s University. There, he coached Kevin McDonnell to All-American status in the 10-kilometer (29:16).  

Dare competed at La Salle University while earning a bachelor's degree in business management. He was an NCAA National Provisional Qualifier in the 10-Kilometer (10K) with a time of 29:25, an All-Atlantic 10 Conference (A10) First Team performer in the Three-Kilometer (3K) race, a two-time All-A10 performer in the Five-Kilometer (5K), as well as a two-time All-Region, a three-time All-A10 performer, and a Junior National Qualifier in cross country. He received a master's degree in Leadership from Cabrini University.
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