Mark FitzPatrick named Denison's Head Track & Field Coach

Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation Larry Scheiderer has announced the hiring of Mark FitzPatrick as Denison’s next head men’s and women’s track & field coach. FitzPatrick succeeds veteran head coach Pan Fanaritis, who announced his retirement in January after 18-years of leading the DU track & field programs.

FitzPatrick comes to Denison from Washington & Jefferson College where he has spent the last eight years as the head cross country and track & field coach. A six-time Presidents’ Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, FitzPatrick has led his squads to four PAC championships during his tenure. 

“I am very excited about the opportunity to coach at Denison University, a great liberal arts college with a strong commitment to athletics,” said FitzPatrick.  “I look forward to continue to build a competitive track & field program at the conference, regional and national levels.  My goal is to create a positive athletic experience for Denison student-athletes which will go a long way toward enhancing their overall collegiate experience.

Of FitzPatrick’s hiring Scheiderer added, “Mark has built an outstanding program during his time at Washington & Jefferson and we believe our student-athletes are getting an accomplished head coach who has years of experience coaching both male and female student-athletes, in a multitude of events, within a liberal arts setting.”

FitzPatrick is coming off one of his finest seasons at W&J, having led his women’s track and field squad to their third PAC title on April 30. The Presidents’ captured nine event titles en route to a 10-point victory over Westminster.  Following the meet FitzPatrick was presented with his sixth Coach of the Year award. 

Last season he guided the men’s track & field team to their first PAC Championship powered by seven event championships. In 2008, he coached W&J’s first male All-American, Doug Melton, to an eighth place finish in the discus at the national championship meet. A year later he coached the second female in school history to an All-American finish in the high jump.

FitzPatrick is no stranger to the NCAC. Prior to accepting the position at Washington & Jefferson he spent three seasons as the head track & field coach at Hiram College. While at Hiram he led the Terriers to their best finish in conference history and coached five individual conference champions. 

Before taking over at Hiram, FitzPatrick served as the assistant women’s cross country and track and field coach at the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse from 1998-2000 where he coached seven Division III All-Americans and helped the Eagles to three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles. FitzPatrick also spent two seasons as the assistant cross country and track and field coach at Allegheny College from 1996-1998, helping train five national qualifiers in cross country and track.

A 1995 graduate of Fairfield (Conn.) with a double major in philosophy and political science, FitzPatrick went on to earn a master’s degree in exercise and sports science from UW-Lacrosse.