Jacob Gleason took over as head coach of the Muskingum Cross Country program, and became the Director of Track & Field Operations at Muskingum during the summer of 2008.

During Gleason’s tenure at Muskingum, he has transformed the cross country team into a competitive squad in the Ohio Athletic Conference and the region. 

In 2016, the team earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors. This is only the second time this honor has been awarded to the cross country program and the first time with Gleason.

In 2014, Gleason coached Ryan Dodd to the second fastest Muskingum 8k time. During this season, Gleason guided the team to a sixth place finish in the OAC Championships and sent five runners to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Tournament.

In 2010, a total of eight Muskies qualified for the NCAA Regional Meet.

He arrived in New Concord after serving as assistant track & field coach at Ohio Northern University. During his three-year tenure at ONU, Gleason coached three NCAA Division III All-Americans, six NCAA Division III National Qualifiers, three Ohio Athletic Conference Individual Champions, 26 All-Ohio Athletic Conference performers, was a member of the 2006 Great Lakes Regional Coaching Staff of the Year and helped guide the 2008 Polar Bear men to the Ohio Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Team Championship.

While at Ohio Northern, Gleason also served as an assistant director for the 2008 NCAA Division III Indoor National Championship Meet, was a member of the OAC Coaches’ Committee Standards and was the conference’s Ranking Coordinator.

Prior to Ohio Northern, Gleason was associate head cross country coach and assistant track & field coach at Geneva College from 2002-2005. While with the Golden Tornadoes, he coached five NAIA Cross Country National Qualifiers, 13 NAIA Track & Field National Qualifiers, two American Mideast Conference Individual Champions and helped guide the 2003 women’s team to the Mideast Conference Championship.

Gleason, a former cross country and track standout in college, received his bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in 2002 and his master’s degree from Geneva College in 2004.

His other duties at Muskingum include serving as an instructor in the Health and P.E. department. Gleason resides with his wife, Holly, and their three children; Eli, Anna, and Elliott.