Essex County College Names Bruce Berry as New Head Coach for Cross Country and Track & Field Programs

Newark, NJ | Essex County College's Athletic Department has appointed Bruce Berry as the new Head Coach for its Cross Country and Track & Field programs.

Berry brings extensive coaching experience at both high school and collegiate levels. His coaching career commenced at Clemson University, where he served as an assistant in sprints, hurdles, jumps, and relays. During his three years there, he coached 14 All‑Americans before moving on to lead Elizabeth High School in New Jersey. Over six years at Elizabeth, Berry served as head coach for cross country and both indoor and outdoor track & field, securing three New Jersey State Championships and earning seven Union County Coach of the Year awards.

Returning to Division I collegiate athletics, Berry then joined the University of Akron as an assistant coach, helping guide 22 NCAA Regional qualifiers and 11 All‑Americans over three seasons. He later spent four seasons as an assistant at Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference, where he added another 21 NCAA Regional qualifiers and six All‑Americans to his record.

Since 2007, Berry has led the cross country and track & field teams at Central High School in Newark. Under his leadership, the school has achieved six State Championships and 12 Essex County First Team All‑County honors.

Essex County College's Athletic Department expressed enthusiasm for Berry's hiring, citing confidence in his leadership to guide and strengthen the programs in the seasons ahead.