James McCarthy debuted as an assistant coach with the New York University men’s and women’s cross country and track & field programs during the 2008 indoor season. He assists head coach Nick McDonough with the program’s recruiting efforts and works mainly with the Violets’ distance and middle distance runners.
During the 2008-09 men’s season, McCarthy worked on a staff that produced six NCAA Championship qualifiers and one All-American (senior Jesse Schneider in the outdoor 10,000 meters). On the women’s side, freshman Joan Kanarkiewicz qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in both the 1,500m and 10,000m.
In addition, a total of nine NYU records (seven women’s, two men’s) were broken last season.
During the 2008 indoor season, McCarthy worked closely with Hany Abdallah, who finished third in the 5,000 meters and became a seven-time All-American with his performance at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. Abdallah also went on to qualify for the outdoor nationals in the 5,000- and 10,000-meter races.
A December 2007 graduate of NYU’s College of Arts and Science with a bachelor’s degree in history, McCarthy was a member of the Violets’ 2007 NCAA Division III National Championship cross-country team. He earned NCAA All-America honors as a member of NYU’s indoor distance medley relay team in 2007, and was a NCAA qualifier in the 1,500 meters in 2006.
A former University Athletic Association (UAA) champion in the 1,500 meters (2006) and the indoor distance medley relay (2005, 2006 & 2007), McCarthy also earned Second Team All-UAA honors in the 1,500m (2007) and the mile (2006). A three-time UAA Athlete of the Week selection during his four-year collegiate career, McCarthy took sixth place at the UAA Cross Country Championship in 2007 and ninth place in 2006, securing First Team and Second Team All-UAA honors, respectively.
“James’ knowledge of our program and of NYU is a huge asset to our recruiting efforts,” McDonough said.
McCarthy, who worked as an instructor at the Newport (RI) Running Camp during the summers of 2004-06, was a two-year captain of the Red Bank Catholic High School cross-country and track teams and was a four-time New Jersey Meet of Champions qualifier.
A native of Colts Neck, NJ, McCarthy resides in Brooklyn, NY.
