Jim Morrison begins his 25th year as an assistant track and field coach at East Stroudsburg University in 2023-24, working primarily with the Warriors' throwers and multi-event athletes.
In 2023-24, ESU throwers continued to flex their muscles as the Warriors combined for four PSAC titles at the indoor and outdoor championships as well as a trio of runner-up finishes. Cole Gorham highlighted the men's team as he became the 21st two-time All-American in program history after earning All-America First Team honors in the discus as well as All-America Second Team honors in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor & Outdoor Championships. Additionally, Gorham took home conference titles in the shot put (indoor) and discus while also breaking the all-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) record in the discus on April 19 at ESU's All-American Meet with a milestone mark of 57.55m (188-9).
On the women's side, Samiyah Little secured the third PSAC weight throw title overall and first in program history since 2014 before becoming the first thrower in program history to record a first-place finish in the hammer at the conference meet. Gorham set new school records in the shot put (indoor) and discus, while Little shattered the program record in the weight throw.
During the 2022-23 season, ESU throwers continued their success as the Warriors claimed five runner-up finishes at the PSAC Indoor/Outdoor Championships which included Elizabeth Makar (hammer, shot put, weight), Daryn Blackwell (hammer) and Zach Nissley (javelin). At the outdoor championships, the men's throwers totaled 42 points while the women's throwers registered 33 points across the four events. Makar continued to impress in her third season with the Warriors as the junior smashed her own school record in the hammer thrrow with a toss of 55.11m (180-8).
In 2021-22, Morrison helped elevate the throwers to new heights as the Warriors had three NCAA qualifiers, a PSAC champion, the Women's PSAC Athlete & Freshman of the Year during the indoor season, while also breaking five school records. In his lone season at ESU, Eric Garner qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the javelin, recording a 14th place finish. Freshman Cole Gorham made an immediate impact, surpassing a 42-year-old program record in the discus (170-1) at the All-American Meet while also setting the freshman record in the shot put (indoor).
On the women's side, Elizabeth Makar put together one of the best single-seasons in program history, earning Second Team All-America in the shot put at both the indoor and outdoor NCAA DII Championships. Makar was named the PSAC Athlete & Freshman of the Year in the indoor season while capturing the conference title in the shot put at the outdoor championships. She also set the school records in the shot put (indoor/outdoor) and hammer. Additionally, Isabella Marte eclipsed the program record in the discus with a throw of 144-1 at the conference championships.
Morrison has coached a number of record-setters and two All-America athletes in the hammer in Paul Wagner (2007-10) and Travis Toth (2012-14, 16). Makar became the latest record-setter under Morrison during the 2021 outdoor season when she broke a 42-year old record in the shot put. Makar eclipsed the previous program record set by Cheryl Baker in 1979 by two and a quarter inches with a throw of 45-3 3/4 at the Bill Butler Invitational.
Toth set the PSAC record (206-11) to finish fifth at the NCAA DII Championships in 2016 to close his career and was named the PSAC men's outdoor Athlete of the Year. Toth was a five-time national qualifier, four-time PSAC champion and three-time All-America - winning PSAC titles in the weight and hammer in 2014 and 2016 around a redshirt year in 2015, and claiming All-America status in the hammer (2014, 2016) and weight (2016, 2nd team).
Wagner earned All-America status in the hammer in 2009 and 2010 and won six PSAC titles, winning the weight throw indoors and hammer outdoors from 2008 through 2010. Wagner set ESU, PSAC championship and PSAC overall records in the weight (66-3 3/4) and hammer (203-2).
On the women's side, Elizabeth Madden won PSAC titles in the weight throw as a junior and senior (2013, 2014) and Samiyah Little brought home the first crown in 10 years in 2024.
Morrison has also coached four All-America javelin throwers in Matt Tholis (2013 national runner-up - school record 232-0, 2012), Josh Hontz (2013, 2011 national runner-up), Dan Gale (2004) and Barry Krammes (2002-03). Krammes has continued to compete, qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2008 and 2012.
ESU has had 20 national qualifiers in the javelin, 17 men and three women, since 2000, and Jenn Grube was an All-American in 2000 and 2001.
At Manhattan, Morrison was a two-time Metropolitan Intercollegiate champion in the 35-pound weight throw and was also an IC4A qualifier. He was captain of the track team in 1982.
Morrison has continued his career as a thrower in Master’s competitions and teaches physical education in Hackettstown High School in Hackettstown, N.J. He and his wife Mary reside in Dingman’s Ferry, Pa. and have three children - William, Erin and Mary Kate.
Recent PSAC Championships by ESU Throwers
2024 outdoor - Cole Gorham (discus)
2024 indoor - Cole Gorham (Shot Put)
2021 outdoor - Dominic Walton (Shot Put)
2016 outdoor - Travis Toth (Hammer)
2016 indoor - Travis Toth (Weight)
2014 outdoor - Travis Toth (Hammer)
2014 indoor - Travis Toth (Weight)
2013 outdoor - Matt Tholis (Javelin)
2011 outdoor - Josh Hontz (Javelin)
2010 outdoor - Paul Wagner (Shot Put)
2010 outdoor - Paul Wagner (Hammer)
2010 indoor - Paul Wagner (Weight)
2010 indoor - Paul Wagner (Shot Put)
2009 outdoor - Paul Wagner (Hammer)
2009 indoor - Paul Wagner (Weight)
2008 outdoor - Paul Wagner (Hammer)
2008 indoor- Paul Wagner (Weight)
2024 outdoor - Samiyah Little (Hammer)
2024 indoor - Samiyah Little (Weight)
2022 outdoor - Elizabeth Makar (Shot Put)
2014 outdoor - Elizabeth Madden (Weight)
2013 outdoor - Elizabeth Madden (Weight)
2009 outdoor - Amanda Sines (Shot Put)
2007 indoor - Amanda Sines (Shot Put)
Recent NCAA Qualifiers by ESU Throwers (All-Americans bold)
2024 outdoor - Cole Gorham (Discus)
2024 indoor - Cole Gorham (Shot Put)
2022 outdoor - Eric Garner (Javelin)
2020 indoor - Dominic Walton (Shot Put)
2016 outdoor - Travis Toth (Hammer)
2016 indoor - Travis Toth (Weight)
2014 outdoor - Travis Toth (Hammer)
2014 indoor - Travis Toth (Weight)
2013 outdoor - Matt Tholis (Javelin)
2013 outdoor - Josh Hontz (Javelin)
2013 outdoor - Travis Toth (Hammer)
2012 outdoor - Matt Tholis (Javelin)
2011 outdoor - Josh Hontz (Javelin)
2010 outdoor - Paul Wagner (Hammer)
2010 outdoor - Josh Hontz (Javelin)
2010 indoor - Paul Wagner (Weight)
2009 outdoor - Paul Wagner (Hammer)
2009 outdoor - Kenny Cardullo (Javelin)
2009 outdoor - Bill Buis (Javelin)
2009 indoor - Paul Wagner (Weight)
2008 outdoor - Kenny Cardullo (Javelin)
2007 outdoor - Kenny Cardullo (Javelin)
2006 outdoor - Dan Gale (Javelin)
2004 outdoor - Dan Gale (Javelin)
2004 outdoor - Barry Krammes (Javelin)
2003 outdoor - Barry Krammes (Javelin)
2003 outdoor - Dan Gale (Javelin)
2002 outdoor - Barry Krammes (Javelin)
2001 outdoor - David Dean (Javelin)
2022 outdoor - Elizabeth Makar (Shot Put)
2022 indoor - Elizabeth Makar (Shot Put)
2008 outdoor - Kahla Doran (Javelin)
2001 outdoor - Jenn Grube (Javelin)
2000 outdoor - Jenn Grube (Javelin)
