After competing together at Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest (NVD) and college, a pair of former track athletes are now coaching side by side to guide the future generation of track athletes at NVOT. This year, Owen Ross and Johnny O’Hanlon joined the girls’ track and field team as the new head coaches.
O’Hanlon threw shotput and discus during his freshman and sophomore seasons at NVD. However, he made the switch to run distance events junior year and joined the cross country team senior year. That same year, Ross was pulled onto the cross country team after the coach saw his potential for running, as he worked to get in shape for wrestling and baseball. With only one season of running together, their friendship didn’t develop until college. Ross said, “I would see Johnny in high school, was terrified of him, and never said hi.”
Despite Ross’s intentions to pursue a wrestling career, he and O’Hanlon attended Springfield College for cross country and track. There, the friendship between the two flourished. Ross said, “Once we got to college we have been the closest of friends ever since. We talk every day and see each other almost every day at the gym.”
Reflecting on some of their favorite times together in college, Ross said, “For me, it was always going to the dining hall after a long practice and workout and making the most absurd jokes with our team forever. We woke up every day and always had something to laugh about.”
Now, Ross and O’Hanlon are continuing their journey together, coaching the team they once competed against in high school. O’Hanlon said, “At the end of the day, I love coaching no matter where I am—but OT feels special in a way I didn’t expect. However, it still feels weird putting on the navy and gold—but I’m getting used to it!”
It’s no wonder that after over four years of dedication and memories, the two are the closest of friends. O’Hanlon says, “Coach Ross is as selfless as they come. He is always willing to put the wants and needs of others before himself.”
Both coaches emphasize on building a team culture where athletes feel valued beyond their performances. Ross said, “We are both insanely dedicated to our work ethic. But most importantly, I feel we both are extremely approachable for any athlete to ask us anything they need. We both want our athletes to know how much we care about them as people first, and not athletes. We want everyone to be excited to come to track because they are valued as individuals.”
Their passion for the sport is shaped by years of experience and makes them more than qualified to lead the team. Having transitioned from athletes to coaches, Ross and O’Hanlon aim to instill the same positive values that influenced their own athletic careers from the start–only this time they’re doing it in gold and navy, not Norsemen blue.