Steve Dolan: Frank Dolson Director of Penn Relays

Steve Dolan, currently James P. Tuppeny / Betty J. Costanza Director of Track and Field and Cross Country at the University of Pennsylvania, has been named Frank Dolson Director of Penn Relays. Mr. Dolan will continue in his role as head of Penn’s track and field and cross-country teams, further aligning the collegiate programs with one of the premier track and field events, the Penn Relays. Mr. Dolan succeeds Dave Johnson, who announced his resignation as director in September 2020.

“As the longtime executive director of Penn Relays, I am delighted to appoint Steve Dolan as our next director,” said Alanna Shanahan, T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W’69 director of Athletics and Recreation at Penn. “Steve has the vision and experience to make this nationally and internationally recognized event even more effective. By continuing his role at Penn Athletics, there will be better coordination between the university programs and the relays, which will benefit both programs immensely. “

“I would also like to thank Dave Johnson for decades of service to Penn and Penn Relays,” Shanahan continued. “The seasons are in a better place in 2021 as Dave led, cared and loved this event for more than three decades in an official capacity and much more as a fan and contributor.”

Mr. Dolan has directed Penn’s track and field and cross-country programs since 2012 and intends to lead Penn Relays by recruiting elite entrants to create a more fun experience for entrants and fans, and on the brand year-round Penn Relays and build up in the community and host other track and field events in historic Franklin Field.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the next chapter of Penn Relays and I am humbled to follow Dave Johnson in that responsibility,” said Mr. Dolan. “Dave has done an excellent job as Event Director over the past 26 years, developing and running Penn Relays.

“As we look to the future, I am inspired to work with Alanna and Scott Ward [senior associate athletic director, chief operations officer/executive director of the Penn Relays] to build on the event’s incredible history. Having participated in the Penn Relays for the past three decades and being both a trainer and a parent, I am very aware of the profound positive effects this event has had on so many people. “

The alignment of the Athletics and Penn Relays offices allows Penn Athletics to align strategic goals and resources and will ultimately help both grow in the years to come. Penn recently expanded its team of athletics and cross-country coaches, and an associate director of Penn Relays will assist Mr. Dolan in meeting management and promoting the sport of athletics in the local and regional community. The growth of future staff will benefit both Athletics and Penn Relays.

“The Penn Relays are a tradition like no other for our campus community, the city of Philadelphia, and the athletics world at large,” said Dolan. “We’re excited to have a great Penn Relays Carnival in 2022. Can’t wait to see everyone in Franklin Field the last week of April! ”

Mr. Dolan is currently in his tenth season as the Athletics / Cross Country Director at Penn, where he oversees all aspects of the men’s and women’s athletics and cross country programs and acts as the distance coach for the men’s program.

As one of the most respected coaches in the country, Mr. Dolan changed the Quakers during his time in Philadelphia. In each of his first eight seasons at the top (pre-pandemic), Penn sent in at least 11 NCAA outdoor qualifiers, including 20+ men and women combined from 2016-19, and produced at least one outdoor All-American each year.

During his career, Mr. Dolan has coached five College Championship of America relay teams at Penn Relays, including the women’s distance relays and men’s 4 x mile in Penn, as well as two men’s 4 mile teams and an individual medley. Men’s distance relay at Princeton.

In those first eight years, Mr. Dolan Penn has led a total of seven Team Ivy League championships (two cross-country men, three indoor athletics and two outdoor women). A total of 33 All-Americans, 81 individual heptagonal champions, 190 All-Ivy honors and 42 Academic All-Ivy winners have fought for Mr. Dolan, who is seven times unanimously Ivy League coach of the year. More than 50 current program records, men and women combined, were overseen by Mr. Dolan.

Prior to Penn, Mr. Dolan spent eight years at Princeton where he served as the men’s cross-country coach and assistant light rail coach for the men’s. While at Princeton, Mr. Dolan was named NCAA Regional Coach of the Year four times.

Prior to arriving at Princeton, Mr. Dolan was the director of the athletics and cross country division for men and women at the College of New Jersey (TCNJ) for 11 years. During Mr. Dolan’s tenure, the TCNJ became a national power. Mr. Dolan’s teams and top individuals have consistently been among the best in the nation. Mr. Dolan coached 66 All-America Award winners who received a total of 126 All-America Quotes. This group includes five NCAA champions. Mr. Dolan has been named NCAA Division III Regional Coach of the Year 12 times as director of track and cross-country programs at TCNJ.

Mr. Dolan is from Bloomington, Minnesota. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota in 1992. During his time at the UST, he was the 1992 NCAA Division III national decathlon champion and was runner-up in 1991. Dolan set school records in decathlon, pentathlon and javelin while at UST and was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. In 1994 he received his Masters Degree in Athletics Administration from the TCNJ.

Mr. Dolan and his wife Nicole have two children: Tim, a senior track and field athlete for Penn, and Sean, a junior track and field athlete with Villanova. As part of the Hopewell Valley High School Boys Distance Medley Relay, Tim and Sean helped set a Penn Relays record in 2018.