ELSAH, IL – Director of Athletics,
Ann Pierson, is pleased to announce the hire of
Justin Halley as Principia's new associate head coach of cross country and track & field.
Coach Halley comes to Principia College after spending six years as the head cross country and track & field coach at Fontbonne University. Halley rebuilt both programs into strong contenders in the SLIAC in recent years, culminating in a very successful 2023-24 season for the Griffins. At last year's conference meets, he guided the Fontbonne men's cross country team to second place (highest finish since 2013), followed by second place for the men's indoor track & field team (highest finish ever). Halley also led the Griffins women's indoor track & field team to three straight third place finishes in the SLIAC, while the men's and women's outdoor programs finished in the top five in each of the last four seasons.
Last spring, Halley also helped guide Fontbonne's first national qualifier in track & field with freshman Bryson Pickard finishing 11th in the 400m at the 2024 NCAA DIII outdoor track & field championships. During his six years at the helm of the Griffin programs, Halley oversaw 60+ school records broken, 50+ SLIAC All-Conference athletes, 5 SLIAC Newcomers of the Year, 2 SLIAC Field Athletes of the Year, and 1 SLIAC Track Athlete of the Year.
Prior to his stint with Fontbonne, Halley was an assistant coach at his alma mater of Maryville University from 2015-18. After graduating from Maryville in 2014 with a degree in biology and a minor in education, he received his masters degree in sports science and rehabilitation from Logan University in 2020. Halley is also USATF level 2 certified in endurance and jumps, as well as being certified by the USTFCCCA in track & field program management and as an endurance event specialist.
Pierson is thrilled to have Halley join our coaching staff. She says, "We are fortunate to be able to draw on Coach Halley's experience. He built a successful program at Fontbonne, and we expect him to have a very positive impact on our cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field programs here at Principia."
Halley says he is extremely grateful to join the Principia community. "I'm so excited to work with Coach Barron and Coach Bay to recruit and build upon the rich traditions the cross county and track & field programs have at Principia. I look forward to helping our student-athletes achieve their goals!"
Welcome to Principia College, Coach Halley!
