Shaunnaya Williams recently completed her ninth season as the director of cross country and track and field in 2019-20. The academic year also marks her 11th season overall at New Haven after serving as an assistant coach from 2009-11.
Â
Since Williams was hired, the program has produced five national champions, 28 individual All-Americans, three All-American relay teams, and numerous All-Northeast-10 Conference and All-New England honorees. Additionally, her teams have excelled in the classroom as she has mentored seven USTFCCCA All-Academic Team members.
During the 2019-20 indoor season, Williams mentored Kristen Washington and Kathleen Amstad, who each won individual NE10 titles. The duo each captured USTFCCCA All-Region honors, along with five members of the men’s team. The men’s team earned its highest-ever finish of fourth place at the NE10 Championships, led by Dante Gonzalez’s second place showing in the high jump and a runner-up performance by the 4x400m relay team. Washington, Michael Reddy and Brett Deri each earned Academic All-NE10 honors.
In 2018-19, The Chargers had eight individuals finish in the top 10 at the Northeast-10 Indoor Championships, led by senior Amaysia Lake in third place of the 60 meter hurdles, Alanna Robinson's runner-up showing in the weight throw, and Kristen Washington who finished runner-up in the long jump. The same trio of Washington (long jump), Robinson (weight throw) and Lake (pentathlon, long jump, 60m hurdles) each earned All-East Region accolades during the indoor season. Michael Kandolin won the NE10 Indoor title in the weight throw, then qualified for the NCAA Championships in the weight throw.
The 2017-18 season saw senior hurdler Riley Knebes win the Northeast-10 Conference title in the 400m hurdles, in addition to earning All-America honors after placing fifth overall at the NCAA Division II Championships. Knebes, along with men’s thrower Michael Kandolin each earned Academic All-NE10 honors, while the duo joined thrower Alanna Robinson in earning All-East Region honors.
The 2016-17 academic year saw four NE10 individual championships, as George Murray was an NE10 and New England Champion in the triple jump in both the indoor season before adding a second NE10 championship in the event in the outdoor season. In the outdoor season, Roxanne Redwood was an NE10 Champion in the long jump, posting an 18’4.25 finish.
With no men’s sprints coach in 2015-16, Williams stepped up to mentor Courtney Moshood to two NE10 Champions in the same indoor season, as he won both the 60-meter and 300-meter dashes before adding a New England championship in the 60-meter dash. Brett Reckling also took home an NE10 Championship during that season, emerging victorious in the 400-meter dash. George Murray also qualified for the Indoor National Championships, placing 12th for second team All-America honors.
Â
In 2014-15, the Chargers’ women’s track and field team competed at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships in six events. During the indoor and outdoor campaigns, New Haven finished third at both the Northeast-10 Championships and the New England Championships, their highest ever finish at the New England meet. Six Charger women garnered All-America honors in 2014-15, including the 4x400m relay team at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. New Haven placed 14th and 17th at the NCAA Division II Indoor and Outdoor Championships respectively.
As part of the banner season, Briana Conyers earned All-America accolades and was named the USTFCCCA East Region Field Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year and was named Co-Field Athlete of the Meet at the NE-10 Outdoor Championships for her performance in the triple jump and heptathlon. Conyers also won the indoor and outdoor championship in the triple jump at both the NE-10 Championships and New England Championships, wrapping her season with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships. Tiara Mitchell also earned All-America honors in the triple jump, finishing 13th at the NCAA Indoor meet and 14th at the outdoor event.
During 2014-15, Williams also mentored Matthew Jeune to All-America honors in the triple jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships as well as mentoring him to a school record in the event. Jeune also claimed the Northeast-10 Conference Championship in the triple jump during both the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Â
Williams mentored Tiara Mitchell to the in 2011-12, her first season as head coach. As a freshman, Mitchell won an individual New England Outdoor Championship and broke the New Haven record in the triple jump with a distance of 12.23 meters. Mitchell also holds the indoor record at 11.58 meters. In addition to Mitchell's NCAA Championship appearance, Williams also coach Matt Jeune and David Thomas to NCAA appearances during the 2011-12 seasons and guided three student-athletes to New England Championship as well – Calista Hutchinson (high jump), Matt Jeune (high jump) and David Thomas (long jump).
Williams also mentored Shannon Gagne, who became one of the most decorated athletes in University of New Haven history. An NE10 and New Haven Hall of Fame inductee, Gagne became a five-time national champion and nine-time All-American. In 2011, Gagne put together one of the finest seasons in the history of Charger athletics, as she captured her combination of three National Championships during the indoor season with victories in the long jump, 200- and 400-meter dashes. In addition to being the first to win three titles across track and field events, her combination of victories also marked just the second time in NCAA Division II women's track and field history that three individual titles were claimed at the same championship meet.
The women's cross country team has also improved steadily during Williams’ first four seasons. The Chargers placed 12th at the Northeast-10 Conference Championships with Erin Fox leading the way during the final two meets of her junior season.
Prior to New Haven, Williams coaching experience includes a year (2007-08) as assistant track and field coach at the James Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Conn. She specialized in developing the teams’ sprinters and jumpers and combined event athletes.
In addition, Williams has been the assistant track and field coach for the New Haven Track Club since 2005, specifically working with athletes from 7-14 years old. Recently, she earned her USATF Level 3/IAAF Level 5 Jumps certification and holds a USATF Level 2 coaching certificate and a USATF Level 2 in combined events.
A 2007 graduate of Southern Connecticut State University, Williams was a member of the track and field and field hockey teams. During her career, Williams was selected to the Northeast-10 all-conference team and the All-New England team. She also served as captain during her senior season. Following graduation, Williams stayed with the Owls’ women’s track and field program as an intern for the 2006-07 season where she helped develop two All-Americans in the triple jump.
An active member of the New Haven community, Williams spends her free time volunteering for various local charities and events.
