JT Klopcic Returns to Goucher as Associate Head Coach of Track and Field/Cross Country

TOWSON, Md. – Goucher College head track and field and cross country coach Erick Camodeca announced that JT Klopcic will join the Gophers' coaching staff as Associate Head Coach, effective July 5, 2022.  He returns to Goucher after a stint as an assistant coach in 2020.

Klopcic will oversee the program's distance program and hurdlers, as well as daily operations of the program.

"I am thrilled to once again work with JT in his new role as Associate Head Coach. JT understands what it takes to build a program, values the importance of relationships within a team, department, and campus. His experience in athletic and academic administration over the past two years will be a great asset to our program, department, and college," said Camodeca. 

"Thank you to President Devereaux, Dr. Andrew Wu and Coach Erick Camodeca for having me back on staff in this new Associate Head Coach role. I am thrilled to work under their leadership and help carry on the success of the cross country/track and field program's as well as the athletics department and institution," said Klopcic.  "Coach Camodeca has established him self as one of the premier track coaches in the nation and I am excited contribute my expertise to continue to build on the great program he is building."

"I cannot wait to begin working with student-athletes, and the athletic administration"

A Bel Air, Maryland native, had an impressive stint at Stevenson University where he competed as a dual-sport athlete in soccer and track and field. As a midfielder/defender for the Mustangs, Klopcic racked up two Academic Conference team awards and one Middle Atlantic Conference Sportsmanship award in his three years. In his four years as a track and field athlete under Coach Camodeca, Klopcic participated in the long sprint events and 400m hurdles.

The Mustangs had four MAC titles and Klopcic earned four Academic Conference team awards. In addition, he won three first-team all-conference accolades and four second-team all-conference nods. Klopcic holds several records including Stevenson's 400m hurdle record and a MAC relay event record.

During his time at Stevenson, Klopcic had many roles including Admissions Ambassador, Orientation and Welcome Leader, Athletic Training Student Worker, Athletic Communications Volunteer Intern, and Project Lead of the Student-Athlete Support Services.  He was also the MAC representative on the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

His track and field/cross country certifications include a USA Track & Field Level 1 Coaching, U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association Technical Online Certification, and American Red Cross AED, CPR, and First Aid.

Klopcic's professional work is just as impressive as his collegiate accomplishments. He returns to Goucher after serving one year as an administrator at Bradley University in the Missouri  Valley Conference. While at Bradley, JT held two roles, the first, Coordinator of Academics and Student Services where he was the primary academic coordinator for Men's and Women's Cross Country/Track and Field, Women's Volleyball, Baseball, and Women's Tennis where he facilitated weekly or bi-weekly academic meetings with at-risk student-athletes, tracked initial and continuing eligibility for assigned teams monitored compliance in accordance to Bradley, the Missouri Valley Conference and NCAA.

Shortly into his time at Bradley, he was elevated to Director of Academics and Student Development. In this role, he was the primary academic coordinator for Men's and Women's Basketball overseeing all aspects of the basketball academic success program including but not limited to monitoring initial and continuing eligibility, conducting daily and weekly meetings with at-risk student-athletes, coaching student-athletes in success skills such as time-management, and oversight of two academic support staff members. On the administrative side, Klopcic oversaw the B.O.L.D. (Bradleys' Student-Athlete Development program). He also had sport administrative duties where he was the secondary sport administrator for Women's Tennis and the Cross Country/Track and Field programs. 

Prior to his time at Bradley, JT spent a year at Valparaiso University, also in the Missouri Valley Conference. There he held a dual role as an Assistant Academic Support Coordinator where he was the primary academic coordinator for Football, Men's and Women's Swimming and Men's and Women's Cross Country/Track and Field. He also held a role as an Assistant Track and Field Coach where he oversaw the Sprints and Hurdles program.

Klopcic received his Bachelor of Science in Counseling and Human Services from Stevenson in 2019, and a Masters of Arts degree in Community-Based Education and Leadership with a thesis in Student-Athlete Well-Being, also from Stevenson. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education Degree from Bradley University studying Higher Education Administration.