Jacob Simon

Biography

Seton Hall University graduate Jacob Simon '18, a rising star in cross country coaching who has built up a wealth of experience up and down the Atlantic coast, was named the Pirates head men's & women's cross country coach on May 13, 2025. Simon, who has collegiate coaching experience at the University of Florida, New Jersey City University and Fairleigh Dickinson University, comes back to his alma mater after coaching the 2024-25 season at Southern New Hampshire University, where he was the head cross country coach and assistant track & field coach. Simon, a native of Freehold, N.J., and graduate of Freehold Township High School, ran cross country for the Pirates from 2014-18 and now is the successor to his Seton Hall coach, the legendary John Moon, who retired on June 1, 2025, after 53 incredible years of service at the University. At Southern New Hampshire in 2024-25, Simon oversaw all aspects of the men's and women's cross country programs, including developing student-athlete specific distance training programs. His men's team posted an impressive performance at the Paul Short Run, finishing second out of 22 teams with one of his athletes winning the 8k race. His women's team finished second out of 11 teams at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship and produced multiple All-Conference runners. Prior to Southern New Hampshire, Simon was the assistant cross country/track & field coach at the University of Florida from 2021-24, assisting in all aspects of the men's and wo