John Napolitano

With almost 20 years of coaching experience at the Division I, II and III levels, John Napolitano comes to us as the current assistant coach at UMass. Since the fall of 2017, “Coach Nap” has been responsible for the throwers while also assisting with the multi-event athletes.

Napolitano has coached two athletes to USATF U20 Outdoor Championships, Danielle Notarfrancesco (2018 Shot put and hammer) and Joseph Duggan (2022 Discus). Napolitano has also coached two Atlantic 10 Champions, John Long (2019 Javelin) and Danielle Notarfrancesco (2022 Shotput) and two New England Champions, Evan Burton (2019 Discus) and Danielle Notarfrancesco (Indoor Shotput 2022).

Rewriting the UMass record books the Minutemen and Minutewomen throwers have achieved 37 new all-time top-ten marks and four school records between the indoor and outdoor events. In his time at UMass, the women’s program has won four team Atlantic 10 Championships and four New England Championships, while also qualifying four individuals to the NCAA Championships.

Napolitano came to UMass after spending three seasons as assistant track and field coach at Christopher Newport University. While with the Captains, Napolitano mentored nine NCAA Division III championship qualifiers, three NCAA Division III All-Americans and 26 all-region honorees. His student-athletes won seven conference titles and set four Christopher Newport records during his tenure there, as well.

Napolitano previously served as the head throws/assistant track and field coach at his alma mater, Keene State, from 2008-2014. While with the Owls, he coached 11 NCAA Division III championship qualifiers, six All-Americans and two NCAA Division III national champions. His student-athletes garnered four ECAC titles, seven New England titles and 62 all-conference honors with 21 conference champions and four conference records set. In addition, 12 Keene State records fell under his watch. Napolitano graduated from Keene State with a bachelor's degree in communications in 2008.