Head Coach Donald Cox and Staff

Dr. Donald Cox

Dr. Donald Cox has represented the Tri-C women’s Cross Country and Track teams since 1991.   During this time, his knack for talent development has resulted in 74 NJCAA Coaches Association Cross Country Academic All-Americans and 76 NJCAA Coaches Association Track & Field Academic All-Americans. In 2005, 2013 and 2016 Tri-C’s cross country teams were named NJCAA Coaches Association Academic Team of the Year for earning the highest team GPA in the U.S. On the track, the 2016 track team also achieved NJCAA Coaches Association Academic Team of the year with a nations best 3.866 team GPA. The track team has also claimed 16 of the last 18 NJCAA Regional XII track titles while also producing 63 individual NJCAA Coaches Association Track and Field All-Americans. 

Dr Cox is president of the NJCAA Cross Country Coaches Association, vice president of track & field, and Academic All-American chair for both cross country and track and field.

Danielle Surace, Women’s Track & Field

Danielle Surace joined Tri-C’s coaching staff in 2014 as an assistant cross country and track hurdles/sprint coach.   She graduated from Mount Union College in 2003, earning a degree in business with a concentration in management and marketing. Coach Surace began her running career at Stow-Monroe Falls High School and was a four-year letter winner at Mount Union University.

Gibert Briscoe Jr., Women’s Track & Field

Gilbert Briscoe joined Tri-C’s coaching staff in 2008 as an assistant track throws/conditioning coach. Coach Briscoe started his coaching career at St. Peter Chanel and Lutheran East High Schools where he developed four Conference Champions, three District Champions, seven state qualifiers and three national qualifiers in just three seasons. Coach Briscoe is a USA Track & Field certified coach and a graduate of St. Peter Chanel High School.

Markeya Owens, Women’s Track & Field

Markeya Owens joined Tri-C’s coaching staff in 2016 as an assistant track sprint/relays coach. Coach Owens began her collegiate coaching career at Case Western Reserve University. Coach Owens is a graduate of Cleveland South High School, where she was the Ohio high school state champion in the 200-meter dash.  She also attended Kansas State University where she was an All-American in track & field.

Royal Brettrager, Women’s track & Field

Royal Brettrager joined Tri-C’s coaching staff in 2017 as an assistant track jump/multi event coach. Coach Brettrager began his coaching career at the local high school level where he had success at both Willoughby Eastlake and Kirtland school districts. He attended Graceland College as an undergraduate where he was a two time Academic All-American in the decathlon. Coach Brettrager also earned a Master’s degree in Exercise Science from Cleveland State University.