Cross-Country Coach Muldowney Retires, Leaving a Running “Dynasty" Behind

After 13 years as the head coach of the cross country and track teams, Joe Muldowney announced his retirement this summer in anticipation of relocating to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with his wife, Christina. A retired Blue Mountain School District social studies teacher of 30 years, Coach Muldowney counts his time at Penn State Schuylkill among the most rewarding of his career.

"My athletes, my colleagues, and the Penn State Schuylkill student body have always made it a joy to be on campus," Muldowney reflected. "The autumn months will not be the same without our schedule of practices and meets."

During his time at Penn State Schuylkill Muldowney developed and enhanced the running program and helped foster a long line of well-rounded student-athletes in the process.

"The young men and women that I have had the privilege to coach and accompany to championship meets in places from Lake Placid, N.Y., to Lawrence, KS., have always conducted themselves with dignity and respect for others," said Muldowney. "While I have watched them become fine athletes, I am most proud of the fact that they have shown themselves to be even finer human beings."

Muldowney recalls many highlights over the years, including coaching freshman Haylee Burnhauser to a ninth-place finish at the 2011 United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Nationals, a seventh-place conference finish in 2012, and a spot on the USCAA 2012 Second-Team All-Americans. More recently, in fall 2019, Muldowney steered the women's cross country team to an unprecedented third consecutive Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) championship. The accomplishment was of such significance that it was recognized on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives by Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania's 9^th Congressional District, who called Penn State Schuylkill's first-ever "three-peat" a dynasty.

He also guided the men's and women's cross country teams to the 2019 NAIA A.I.I. Cross Country Championships which was held on the Haskell Indian Nations University campus. This was the first time any Penn State Schuylkill athletic team had participated in NAIA postseason play since the campus officially became a member of the college athletics association in July of 2018.

Muldowney leaves behind a legacy of hard work, sportsmanship, and athletic achievement.

"We are excited for Coach Muldowney as he begins the next chapter of his life in South Carolina," said Penn State Schuylkill athletic director Joe Godri. "Coach Muldowney was the architect of one of our campus's most successful athletic programs and has had a positive impact on countless student-athletes over the years. He was the embodiment of every characteristic one would want in a head coach. He was a leader, mentor, educator, and friend.  Coaches like Joe Muldowney are hard to find and impossible to forget."