Ethan Barron ~ Head Coach ~ Ethan began his coaching career at Tufts in 2002. In 2005, Ethan took over the helm of the Men's Cross Country/Track and Field team here at Tufts. In his first year as a head coach, the Jumbos finished 5th at the Cross Country National Championships. The Jumbos haven't looked back since. Fighting for regional titles in every season, Coach Barron's athletes have earned 20 All American and 42 Academic All American honors in his brief four year career.
Now in his 5th year, the team has continued to gain strength including NESCAC and New England Titles. Before coming to The Hill, Ethan was a standout at Middlebury College, where he competed in the 55mHH, 110mHH, 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m, 4x400m, long jump, and triple jump. He holds school records in the 55mHH and 110mHH, and was All American in each. Ethan holds degrees in Mathematics and Chemistry from Middlebury, as well as an M.A. in Educational Studies from Tufts. He is currently pursuing an additional degree in Cognitive Development at Tufts University.
Over the past four years the Jumbo coaching staff has earned an impressive seven Staff of the Year awards. When asked about the program's successes, Ethan emphatically says, "We are only as strong as those that surround us, but with these assistants and athletes - I feel invincible." Ethan is a native of Rutland, VT and now resides in Medford. You can email Ethan at ethan.barron@tufts.edu.
Mark Carberry ~ Volunteer Assistant Coach ~ Middle Distance/Distance ~ Mark is an '04 graduate of Villanova University where he competed in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. Mostly focusing on the 800m and 1000m, Mark received All-Big East honors in the 4x800 relay as well as numerous All-Academic Big East honors.
Originally from Rocky Hill, CT, Mark was a multiple state champion in both cross country and track and field. Prior to arriving at Tufts, Mark served as an assistant coach at Rocky Hill High School from 2005 to 2006. In his first year at Tufts, the Jumbos posted a school record DMR and finished 3rd at the NCAA Championships. He helped numerous athletes qualify for the national championships in the DMR, mile, and 5k. He holds a B.A. from Villanova in political science as well as an M.A. in Political Science from Florida State. He is currently pursuing a degree in Education at Tufts University.
Mark Coogan ~ Assistant Coach ~ Middle Distance/Distance ~ Mark Coogan is the most recent addition to the Jumbo coaching staff. After a highly successful career in running, Mark shifted his focus to coaching. After working with both the Phillips Exeter and MIT programs, he will now call Tufts his home this fall.
Mark displayed great range as an athlete. Not only was he the first Massachusetts native to break the four-minute mile, but he is a three-time US road race champion and represented the US in the marathon at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. He is an eight-time member of the U.S. world championship cross country team and earned a silver medal in the marathon at the 1995 Pan-American Games. He is also a two-time bronze medalist at the USATF Championships.
More importantly, Coogan has demonstrated a great amount of skill as a coach. At Phillips Exeter Academy, he led the boy's XC team to three New England prep school team championships. After taking his position at MIT, Coogan made an immediate impact helping numerous athletes qualify for the national championships. He is a welcomed addition to the Tufts community.
Chris Combs ~ Pole Vault ~ Chris became the head pole vault coach at Marlborough High School (MA) in 1995 and now brings his decades of experience to the collegiate level. During his tenure at Marlborough High, he coached champions of both the Massachusetts State meet and New England meet, as well as the New England Record Holder. Chris is a head coach for the Patriot Pole Vault Club based out of Westborough, MA, coaching everyone from beginner to elite vaulters. After only one year at Tufts, Chris piloted every vaulter to new heights, including multiple All Conference and All Region performances. Currently living in Hopkinton, MA, Chris is a software support analyst for Invention Machine.
Ed Arcaro ~ Assistant Coach ~ Throws ~ A local boy, born and raised in Medford, MA, Ed Arcaro is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. While a student at UMass Amherst, Ed set school records for the 35# weight, Shot Put, Hammer Throw, and Discus. Upon graduating college, Coach Arcaro continued to compete throwing at 13 consecutive National Championships and three Olympic trials. Since, Ed has been coaching at the high school, collegiate, and elite levels for the past 14 years. He brings a wealth of knowledge and love of the throws to practice everyday. Ed is entering his fifth year with the Jumbos and works locally for the IRS. He lives with his wife and two sons (future Jumbo throwers) in Burlington, MA.
Kevin Bright ~ Graduate Assistant ~ Sprints/Intermediate Hurdles/Middle Distance ~ Kevin is an '06 graduate of Middlebury College where he was a member of the Middlebury Football, Indoor, and Outdoor Track teams. His primary event on the track was the 400m Intermediate Hurdles in which he earned All American honors three times. Kevin set his PR in the Intermediate Hurdles in his senior spring at the NCAA championships when he finished as national runner-up in a time of 51.95. In addition to the hurdles, Kevin also competed in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m, 4x400m, and Long Jump. Now in his fourth year with the Jumbos, Kevin graduated from Middlebury with a double major in Environmental Studies and Geology and has since received his Masters in Energy and Environmental Analysis from Boston University. Originally from Sharon, MA, Kevin currently lives in Medford and works in the Office for Sustainability at Harvard University.
Jeremy Arak ~ Assistant Coach ~ Jumps ~ Raised in nearby Ipswich, MA, Jeremy was a perennial national-caliber high jumper, winning multiple New England and NESCAC championships for the Jumbos. In his junior year, he reset the Outdoor School Record with his leap of 2.02m. In his first year working with the High Jumpers, he led James Bradley to a 6th place finish at the National Championships clearing 6-9. He provides a mix of experience and knowledge to both the high jump and the multi-event athletes. Jeremy graduated in 2008 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and currently works for the Salem Power Company.
Nate Cleveland ~ Assistant Coach ~ Middle Distance ~ A 2007 graduate of Tufts and former captain of the Cross Country and Track teams, Nate will be one of the new additions to the coaching staff this year. After a long career as a runner at Edward Little High School in Maine, and here at Tufts, Nate is excited to transition to the coaching side of running and working with the mid-distance athletes. While at Tufts he competed in events ranging from 400m to the Mile and was a national qualifier on multiple relays. He reset the Tufts’ 600m School Record in his final year at Tufts. After graduating with a degree in Political Science & Government, Nate has been working with high school students as a College Advising Counselor at Somerville High School.
Patricia Cordeiro ~ Athletic Trainer ~ Pat and the rest of the training room staff provide invaluable support to the Jumbos through injury prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation. Pat, the primary trainer to the Men's XC/Track teams, truly is a precious resource to the athletes and coaching staff. Being a competitive triathlete herself, Pat has an indepth understanding of the mindset and physical demands of a runner and, therefore, the injuries that harass them. XC/Track & Field injuries are unlike those from any other sport and require a certain personality/skill set to manage them properly. The Tufts coaching staff has yet to meet an athletic trainer with more track specific knowledge, patience, and versatility than Pat Cordeiro. Her involvement with the programs continually gives Tufts a decided advantage over their competition.
Mike Pimentel ~ Strength & Conditioning Coordinator ~ Mike and his staff work with the Tufts Cross Country/Track and Field program in the areas of strength training, flexibility, injury prevention, and biomechanics. Mike's knowledge of the biomechanics and kinesiology of different Track & Field events works in conjunction with his assessment skills to help the Tufts programs prevent and rehabilitate from injuries. A well structured, periodized strength program is critical to reaching one's potential as a collegiate athlete. Working in association with the rest of the coaching staff, Mike ensures that the team's weight, plyometric, and rehab progressions flow seamlessly with the rest of the training.
