Joseph Kalnas joins the Rowan men’s and women’s track & field programs in 2024-25 as the throws coach, bringing a great deal of experience and success as a coach and competitor.
Kalnas was the assistant coach for both programs at Rowan College of South Jersey – Gloucester for 14 seasons, specializing in the throws and handling strength and conditioning for all events. He helped lead the RCSJ – Gloucester teams to four national championships (women in 2013; men in 2014, 2018, 2019), and three national runners-up, as well as numerous Regional titles. Individually, he saw his student-athletes win 50 NJCAA DIII national titles and earn All-American status 120 times.
During his career, Kalnas has earned a host of coaching honors and was named the NJCAA/USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year six times and was chosen as the Regional Assistant Coach of the Year 13 times.
He began his college career as a walk-on at The Citadel and transferred to Gloucester County College where he was a Region champion, an NJCAA national championship qualifier and finished in the top 10 nationally in the discus. Kalnas completed his studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a concentration in exercise science in 2008.
A certified strength and conditioning specialist originally from Gibbstown, NJ, Kalnas and his wife Heidi have a daughter, Willow Luna.
