With over a decade of championship experience at Princeton to his credit, a familiar face steps into the role of William M. Weaver '34 Head Coach of Track and Field & Cross Country with the announcement that Jason Vigilante has been named the ninth head coach in the history of Princeton's men's track and field program.
"In his time at Princeton, Jason has helped lead our men's track and cross country programs to unprecedented levels of competitive success," said Mack. "More importantly, he's recruited some of the best and brightest student-athletes in the world to Princeton, and they have performed equally as well in the classroom and in the community as they have in competition. The future is bright for our program and I am excited to see where Jason can lead us as our head coach."
A five-time Ivy League Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year, Vigilante assumes the role after the retirement of Fred Samara following a 46-year career as head coach of the Tigers.
Since joining Princeton in 2012, Vigilante has served as the head coach of the men's cross country team and as an assistant with the track and field program where he oversaw the distance contingent.
During his dozen years with the Tigers, Vigilante has coached Princeton to six Ivy League men's cross country championships (2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022) and been a key cog in four Heps Triple Crowns (2014-15, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2021-22). All total, Vigilante has been part of 20 Ivy League championships during his 12 years with the Tigers.
He has guided 18 individuals and two relays to a total of 24 Heps championships, and his athletes have accounted for 13 NCAA All-American finishes - highlighted by Princeton's 2013 NCAA championship in the indoor DMR.
"First off, I want to express my gratitude to John Mack and the members of the selection committee for offering me this opportunity, a role with a legacy of excellence created by coaching legends including Larry Ellis and Fred Samara," Vigilante said. "I am bolstered by the support of our team, alumni, parents and Friends of Track and Field along with the wisdom I have gained from former student-athletes, fellow coaches and colleagues. I am grateful to my family without whom none of this would be possible or worthwhile. I look forward to leading our program forward. Our student-athletes go on to lives of consequence and I will continue to support their time at Princeton as they learn through perseverance, dedication and teamwork to believe in themselves and something bigger than themselves."
In his first year on staff in 2012-13, Vigilante guided the men's cross country team to a third consecutive Heps championship and coached Chris Bendsten '14 to the eighth individual meet title in program history. His squad would go on to set a program-best with an 11th place finish at the NCAA Championships. When attention turned indoors, Vigilante coached the distance medley relay to the first NCAA championship on the track for the Tigers in 38 years. In the spring, he coached two more All-Americans to bring his total to 11 for his first season.
That debut season started a run where Vigilante coached his cross country team to first or second place finishes at Heps in eight of the ten meets contested - including six total wins and championships in four of the last five Ivy League conference meets. Vigilante enters the 2023 season tied for No. 4 all-time in Heps titles by a men's cross country coach with his six - two behind legendary Princeton coach Larry Ellis.
On the track, Vigilante has guided Princeton athletes to All-American honors in a multitude of events. In addition to the NCAA title from the DMR in 2013, he coached the DMR to indoor All-American honors in 2022. This past season, he guided Sam Rodman to All-American distinction in the indoor 800.
Outdoors, he has worked with eventual All-Americans in the 800, 1500, 5k, 10k and steeplechase. Four of those All-Americans have come the last two years, including three in 2022 (Sam Rodman in the 800, Sam Ellis in the 1500, and Ed Trippas in the steeple) and Nicholas Bendsten last year in the 5,000
Ed Trippas continued the lineage of Olympians coached by Vigilante when he represented Australia in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He also coached 2012 Olympic silver medalist Leonel Manzano to a spot on Team USA in 2008 and helped Robby Andrews qualify for the 2016 Olympics where he reached the semifinals.
Before joining the Princeton program in 2012, Vigilante spent three years as the Director of Track and Field at the University of Virginia where he coached Robby Andrews to NCAA championships in the 800 both indoors (2010) and outdoors (2011). He coached 30 ACC champions at Virginia, and totalled 32 All-Americans while guiding the Cavaliers to the 2008 ACC men's cross country title..
From 1999 to 2008, Vigilante was on staff at the University of Texas, spending the final three seasons as head coach of cross country and associate head coach of the track and field teams and winning a dozen Big 12 team championships along the way. He coached six NCAA champions with the Longhorns, racking up wins in the 800, 1500, mile and DMR. Along the way, he coached 39 NCAA All-Americans in Austin, had 20 Big 12 champions, and a 2008 indoor world record in the DMR.
A decorated coach from the United States Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA), Vigilante was twice named National Assistant Coach of the Year, earning the honor in 2005 (outdoor) and 2008 (indoor) while at Texas. He has been named regional cross country coach of the year four times, and was twice honored as regional assistant coach of the year.
A 1996 graduate of N.C. State, Vigilante was a three-time letter-winner for the Wolfpack and earned All-ACC honors as a senior. After graduation, he coached as an assistant at UNC Wilmington during the 1996-97 season before returning to his alma mater as a graduate assistant from 1997-99. Vigilante and his wife Jenifer have six children.
What They Are Saying -
"I am very pleased Coach Vigilante has been named as the new Head Coach of Men's Track and Field/Cross Country. Jason has had a very distinguished career as one of the nation's top coaches. I'm confident that, with his leadership, Princeton will continue to be the preeminent program in the Ivy League."
- Fred Samara, former head coach of Princeton men's track and field
"I am thrilled to learn that Jason Vigilante will be the next head coach of Princeton men's track and field. Throughout his time at Princeton, he has dedicated himself to building not only great athletes, but also building great men. Together with Coach Abdullah I am confident that his leadership, and investment in the holistic development of young men will carry the program to future success for many years to come."
- Russell Dinkins '13; three-time All-American at Princeton and member of 2013 DMR national champion
"Jason Vigilante had unwavering belief in me and my talents from the time I started at Princeton, even when I did not always match that belief, ultimately teaching me the most important thing a person can have - belief in their own self. Through years of guidance as I developed as an athlete and person under him, his ability to foster an inclusive, enjoyable and high-performing environment was something that led to success as well as a rewarding college experience beyond what I had thought possible. He challenged me to become the best version of myself, going from barely making the Heps team freshman year to becoming an Olympian. His coaching ability goes far beyond the world class results and training, and speaks for itself on the interpersonal side of coaching with the relationships he has developed with his athletes and helping them to succeed in pursuit of their dreams."
- Ed Trippas '22; 2020 Olympian and two-time Ivy champion
"Jason is among the very best coaches of Track and Field in the United States, if not the world. He has recruited and developed talent at every stop in his career. He and Princeton are a perfect match."
- Mark Wetmore, University of Colorado track and field head coach