Saint Francis University Men's Cross Country

Coaching Highlights at Saint Francis Six-time NEC Coach of the Year - 2017 (Women’s Cross Country), 2019 (Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field), 2021, 2022, 2023 (Women’s Track & Field) Coached two NCAA Participants - Deshaun Jackson (2019, 4th 110m hurdles), Sara Phelan (2019, 21st, javelin) Five-time NEC Champion - 2016 Women’s Cross Country; 2019, Men’s Track & Field; 2021, 2022, 2023 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coached 15 NCAA East Preliminary Participants Coached 39 All-NEC Cross Country Performers - 17 Men’s Cross Country; 21 Women’s Cross Country Coached 119 NEC Track and Field Champions - 25 Men’s Indoor Track & Field; 13 Women’s Indoor Track & Field; 32 Men’s Outdoor Track & Field; 39 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field 35 Times An Athlete Named NEC Outstanding Performer: Men’s Cross Country - Bryce England (Performer, 2017); Women’s Cross Country - Anna Quackenbush (Rookie, 2023) Rosie Gaydos (Rookie, 2024); Men’s Indoor Track & Field - Jesse Brown (Rookie, 2016), Bryce England (Performer, Distance, 2018); Nickolas Hyde (Throws, 2024); Men’s Outdoor Track & Field - Bryce England (2017, Distance; 2018, Distance), Chris Frederick (2018, Rookie); Deshaun Jackson (2019, Performer), Chris Frederick (2019, Sprints); Benjamin Ross (2019, Throws); Nickolas Hyde (Throws, 2021, 2022, ; Rookie, 2021); Julian Saunders (Sprints, 2023); Women’s Cross Country - Hannah Dorian (Rookie, 2014); Women’s Indoor Track & Field - Madeline Murphy (Jumps, 2023); Women’s Outdoor Track & Field - Brittany Jackson (Track, 2013), Paris Cotman (Rookie, 2013), Emma O’Hara (Rookie, 2013), Jennifer Hahne (2017, Track); Emily Lunger (2019, Rookie); Mylan Crews (Performer, Sprints, 2021); Madeline Murphy (Jumps, 2022; Performer, Jumps, 2023); Carly Sedun (Rookie, 2022; Thrower, 2024) Douglas Hoover enters his 15th season as head coach of the Saint Francis University men's and women's cross country and track & field programs in 2026-27. A veteran collegiate coach with more than two decades of experience, Hoover previously served as a graduate assistant with the Saint Francis men's and women's cross country and track & field programs from 2000-02. Since taking over the program in 2012, Hoover has continued Saint Francis' proud tradition of excellence while elevating the program to new heights. Under his leadership, the men's and women's track & field teams have combined to win four Northeast Conference (NEC) championships, while the women's cross country team captured the 2016 NEC title. Hoover has guided Saint Francis athletes to success on the national stage. Deshaun Jackson earned First Team All-America honors after placing fourth in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships, while Sara Phelan qualified for the 2019 NCAA Championships and finished 19th nationally in the javelin. He also played a key role in relocating the University's home cross country course from Immergrun Golf Course to B & D Acres in Tyrone. Saint Francis has hosted home meets at B & D Acres since the move, including the 2022 and 2025 NEC Cross Country Championships. During Hoover's tenure, the women's cross country team claimed the 2016 conference championship, the men's track & field team won the 2019 NEC Outdoor Championship, and the women's outdoor track & field team captured three consecutive NEC titles in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The 2021 championship was secured by an 82-point margin—one of the largest in conference history. Throughout Hoover's tenure, Saint Francis has established itself as a perennial NEC contender. In his first 13 seasons as head coach, the program produced 35 NEC Outstanding Performer honors, 119 individual NEC event champions, and 39 All-NEC cross country selections. Additionally, 15 student-athletes have advanced to the NCAA East Preliminary Round, while Jackson and Phelan earned NCAA Championship appearances. Success has extended well beyond competition. Hoover's teams have consistently excelled academically, with four of the University's six cross country and track & field programs earning Northeast Conference Team GPA Awards for posting the highest GPA in their respective sports, including men's and women's cross country and women's indoor and outdoor track & field. Hoover returned to Saint Francis after serving as an assistant coach at Juniata College from 2007-12. During his time with the Eagles, he helped guide the women's cross country team to the 2007 Landmark Conference Championship. Juniata also produced three All-Americans, an NCAA Cross Country Championship qualifier, and an NCAA provisional qualifier in track & field. The men's cross country program earned 14 Landmark Conference First or Second Team selections during his tenure, while the women's team produced 12 all-conference honorees. Before joining Juniata, Hoover founded the men's and women's cross country programs at Penn State Altoona, serving as head coach from 2002-07. In the program's first five seasons, Penn State Altoona finished among the top three at the conference championships eight times, capturing one team championship and one individual title. Hoover was named Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year in both 2004 and 2005. Earlier in his career, Hoover served as a graduate assistant at Saint Francis from 2000-02. During that time, the men's teams won every NEC championship, future Olympian Brian Sell qualified for the 2001 NCAA Championships in the 10,000 meters, and Kevin Doyle claimed the 2001 NEC individual cross country title. The women's cross country team also won the 2001 NEC championship, while five women and four men earned All-NEC honors. As a competitor, Hoover enjoyed an accomplished career in Summer Biathlon, a sport combining cross country running and rifle marksmanship. He was a member of the United States Summer Biathlon National Team from 1997-2012 and captured five national championships (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012). Hoover recorded 13 top-10 finishes at the U.S. National Championships and represented the United States at five World Championships (2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009), earning two top-20 finishes while leading Team USA on four occasions. He served as the United States flag bearer at the 2007 World Championships and was named team captain in 2009. In recognition of his accomplishments, Hoover was inducted into the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. Hoover earned a bachelor's degree in finance with a minor in economics from Penn State University in 1994 and completed his Master of Business Administration at Saint Francis University in 2002. A native of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, Hoover resides in Loretto

Cianci will work with the cross country and track & field programs, specifically the middle distance and distance runners.   "I'm excited to welcome Coach Cianci back to Loretto and the SFU family," Hoover remarked. "She had a good career here as a student-athlete and brings that experience with her to hit the ground running.  Her background as an educator and investment in the mission of Saint Francis University makes her a great fit for our team.  She is going to do good things here and am confident that our student-athletes will benefit from her experience."   Cianci rejoins Saint Francis after working as a third grade teacher at the Saint Michael School since July of 2012. She also founded the Saint Michael School's track & field program in August of 2012.   During her time with the Red Flash, Cianci put together an impressive career, earning 11 spots in the record books for Top-10 finishes in track & field including school records for the indoor 4x800 and outdoor 4x1500 teams. She scored in six NEC Championships for a total of 22.5 career points.   For the cross country team, Cianci ran in the conference meet all four years, placing on the team's Top-Seven in two appearances. In her senior season she made a career-best finish, placing fifth on the team at the NEC Championship meet, good for 40th overall.   Cianci was also an exceptional student during her time with the Red Flash, graduating with a 3.99 GPA, earning Northeast Conference Academic Honor Roll recognition during her entire undergraduate career.Katie Cianci

Ridgeley will enter her fourth season as an assistant coach for the Saint Francis U track & field programs in 2015-16. She brings with her 30 years of coaching experience, including three years as an assistant coach with the Red Flash from 1999-2002. Ridgeley began her storied coaching career at Clarion Area High School, before taking over the reins as head girl's track and field coach at Central Cambria High School. She mentored numerous PIAA District VI and State Championship individuals and teams while at the helm of the Central Cambria program. Through her career, she has coached every track and field event area.   From 1999 through 2002, Ridgeley served as an assistant coach for the Saint Francis University men's and women's track and field teams. During her first tenure in Loretto, she was primarily responsible for coaching the sprints and relays. Under her guidance, the SFU sprinters broke numerous school records and earned multiple Northeast Conference honors. Her charges also helped the men's track and field team win back-to-back NEC indoor and outdoor championships in 2001 and 2002.   Ridgeley is a graduate of Clarion University, where she was a former school record holder in the javelin. She lives in Ebensburg and is a teacher at Central Cambria High School. She is married to long-time Central Cambria boys track andfield coach Joe Ridgeley. They have two children. Their daughter, Brooke, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy student at Slippery Rock University. Their son, Ben, is a senior Actuarial Science major at Robert Morris University, where he has played football for the last four years.