Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's Track & Field
Goodridge, John
John Goodridge
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- john.goodridge@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.487.2245
The 2020-21 season will mark the 20th year for John Goodridge as a member of the track & field and cross country staffs at Eastern Michigan University. The veteran coach has enjoyed an outstanding coaching career, acting as an integral part of the track and field staffs that led EMU to Mid-American Conference championships in 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. Moving to the helm of the Eagles’ track and field squad in 2010, Goodridge directed the Green and White squads that earned conference titles in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2018. At the head of EMU's Cross Country program since 2001, he has been a part of 14 of the Eagles' record 23 MAC Championships during his time in Ypsilanti.
His most recent accomplishment in his tenure at Eastern Michigan includes coaching the Eagles to the 2018 triple crown (MAC Championships in Indoor and Outdoor Track, along with Cross Country). Goodridge has also coached conference cross country championship teams in the Mid-American, Big Ten, and Atlantic Coast Conferences.
Since arriving at Eastern Michigan in 2001, Goodridge has coached 22 track & field All-Americans including two NCAA National Track and Field Champions (Boaz Cheboiywo in the 10,000 meters and Jordan Desilets in the 3,000-meter steeplechase) as well as numerous individual MAC Track and Field/Cross Country Champions. In his 18 years at Eastern Michigan, he has been a significant part of the coaching staffs that led the Eagles to three triple crown seasons (2001-02, 2006-07, and 2017-18). During his tenure, 16 EMU school records have been set, including the EMU 4x100m relay team record, the first Eagles team to dip below the 40-second barrier when Cameron Bolton, Tyler Brown, Jeff Elam, and Chris Scott set the new varsity record of 39.98 at the Drake Relays.
Five EMU tracksters have broken the magical sub-4:00 mile mark of which Goodridge has coached three (Cheboiywo, Desilets and Gavin Thompson) along with Paul McMullen and Ben Reese coached by EMU Athletic Hall of Fame member Coach Bob Parks.
Prior to his arrival at EMU, Goodridge was the head track and field coach at Wake Forest University for 15 years (1984-1999), where he coached the Demon Deacons to unparalleled success in the school’s history. Goodridge coached Wake Forest to its highest ever ACC finishes in cross country (first) and track & field (second) and its highest ever national finishes in cross country (third) and track & field (eighth). At Wake Forest, he coached 14 individual ACC Champions and seven All-Americans. He coached Wake Forest to its first ever ACC cross country championship, first-ever individual champion, first All-Americans in track and field and cross country, first team NCAA cross country appearance and highest ever finish in school history (third). His Wake Forest cross country teams finished first or second in the ACC for 10 consecutive years, winning four titles and making seven NCAA appearances.
During his long and distinguished coaching career, Goodridge has coached 20 athletes, including five EMU athletes (Desilets, DuBois, Naughton, Nowitzke, Perrin) who have represented the United States in international competition including the Olympics, World Track and Field Championships, World Cross Country Championships, and Pan American Games. He has also coached three EMU athletes (Cheboiywo, Karanja, Thompson) who have represented Canada, Kenya, and Great Britain in international competition including the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, European Championships and Francophone Games. Six years ago, EMU’s Donald Scott won the United States National Junior Championship in the triple jump and the silver medal in the Pan-Am Junior Championships as a freshman. Goodridge is one of just three active men’s coaches that has coached two podium NCAA Cross Country Championship teams, having accomplished the feat at both Wake Forest and EMU.
A native of New York City, Goodridge graduated from Long Island University in 1972 and earned his master’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1975. During his many years of involvement in coaching cross country and track and field, he has been an officer of national organizations, including serving as the vice president of the U.S. Men’s Collegiate Cross Country Coaches Association.
His most recent accomplishment in his tenure at Eastern Michigan includes coaching the Eagles to the 2018 triple crown (MAC Championships in Indoor and Outdoor Track, along with Cross Country). Goodridge has also coached conference cross country championship teams in the Mid-American, Big Ten, and Atlantic Coast Conferences.
Since arriving at Eastern Michigan in 2001, Goodridge has coached 22 track & field All-Americans including two NCAA National Track and Field Champions (Boaz Cheboiywo in the 10,000 meters and Jordan Desilets in the 3,000-meter steeplechase) as well as numerous individual MAC Track and Field/Cross Country Champions. In his 18 years at Eastern Michigan, he has been a significant part of the coaching staffs that led the Eagles to three triple crown seasons (2001-02, 2006-07, and 2017-18). During his tenure, 16 EMU school records have been set, including the EMU 4x100m relay team record, the first Eagles team to dip below the 40-second barrier when Cameron Bolton, Tyler Brown, Jeff Elam, and Chris Scott set the new varsity record of 39.98 at the Drake Relays.
Five EMU tracksters have broken the magical sub-4:00 mile mark of which Goodridge has coached three (Cheboiywo, Desilets and Gavin Thompson) along with Paul McMullen and Ben Reese coached by EMU Athletic Hall of Fame member Coach Bob Parks.
Prior to his arrival at EMU, Goodridge was the head track and field coach at Wake Forest University for 15 years (1984-1999), where he coached the Demon Deacons to unparalleled success in the school’s history. Goodridge coached Wake Forest to its highest ever ACC finishes in cross country (first) and track & field (second) and its highest ever national finishes in cross country (third) and track & field (eighth). At Wake Forest, he coached 14 individual ACC Champions and seven All-Americans. He coached Wake Forest to its first ever ACC cross country championship, first-ever individual champion, first All-Americans in track and field and cross country, first team NCAA cross country appearance and highest ever finish in school history (third). His Wake Forest cross country teams finished first or second in the ACC for 10 consecutive years, winning four titles and making seven NCAA appearances.
During his long and distinguished coaching career, Goodridge has coached 20 athletes, including five EMU athletes (Desilets, DuBois, Naughton, Nowitzke, Perrin) who have represented the United States in international competition including the Olympics, World Track and Field Championships, World Cross Country Championships, and Pan American Games. He has also coached three EMU athletes (Cheboiywo, Karanja, Thompson) who have represented Canada, Kenya, and Great Britain in international competition including the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, European Championships and Francophone Games. Six years ago, EMU’s Donald Scott won the United States National Junior Championship in the triple jump and the silver medal in the Pan-Am Junior Championships as a freshman. Goodridge is one of just three active men’s coaches that has coached two podium NCAA Cross Country Championship teams, having accomplished the feat at both Wake Forest and EMU.
A native of New York City, Goodridge graduated from Long Island University in 1972 and earned his master’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1975. During his many years of involvement in coaching cross country and track and field, he has been an officer of national organizations, including serving as the vice president of the U.S. Men’s Collegiate Cross Country Coaches Association.
| Year | School | Position | Cross Country Finish | Indoor Track | Outdoor Track |
| 2019-20 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Track Coach | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 2nd | COVID-19 Canceled |
| 2018-19 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Track Coach | 7th | 2nd | 2nd |
| 2017-18 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Track Coach | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 1st/MAC Coach of Year |
| 2016-17 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Track Coach | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 2nd | 2nd |
| 2015-16 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Track Coach | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 2nd | 2nd |
| 2014-15 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Track Coach | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 2nd | 1st/MAC Coach of Year |
| 2013-14 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Track Coach | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 3rd | 1st/MAC Coach of Year |
| 2012-13 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Track Coach | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 3rd |
| 2011-12 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Track Coach | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 4th | 4th |
| 2010-11 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Track Coach | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 3rd | t-4th |
| 2009-10 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Track Coach | 2nd | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 1st/MAC Coach of Year |
| 2008-09 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Asst. Track Coach | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 2nd | 2nd |
| 2007-08 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Asst. Track Coach | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 1st | 2nd |
| 2006-07 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Asst. Track Coach | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 1st | 1st |
| 2005-06 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Asst. Track Coach | 1st/MAC Coach of Year | 1st | 2nd |
| 2004-05 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Asst. Track Coach | 5th | 3rd | 3rd |
| 2003-04 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Asst. Track Coach | 2nd | 1st | 2nd |
| 2002-03 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Asst. Track Coach | 2nd | 1st | 2nd |
| 2001-02 | Eastern Michigan | Head XC/Asst. Track Coach | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| 1984-99 | Wake Forest | Head XC/Track Coach | |||
| 1979-82 | Michigan State | Head Women's XC/Asst. Track Coach | |||
| 14 MAC titles | 3 MAC titles | 4 MAC titles | |||
| 13-time MAC Coach of the Year | 3-time MAC Coach of the Year | 4-time MAC Coach of the Year |
Track & Field at 2025 Spartan Invitational
Tuesday, April 08
2025 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Cinematic Recap
Wednesday, March 05
2025 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Day 1 Highlights
Saturday, March 01
2025 MAC Indoor Championships Hype Video
Wednesday, February 26
