Fordham University Athletics

Nick Kocienda rejoined the Fordham track & field coaching staff, focusing on the throwing events. During his tenure at Fordham, he has had multiple athletes rank in the top five in program history. 
 

During the 2025 indoor season, junior Tanicha Saintigene set a new Shot Put record of 11.75m (41’). During the 2025 outdoor season, freshman James Alati placed third at Metropolitan Outdoor Track & Field Championships and 6th at A10 with a throw of 54.96m.
 

During the 2026 indoor season, freshman Noah Rubenstein took 6th place at the Metropolitan Outdoor Track & Field Championships and 9th place at Atlantic 10 Championships. During the 2026 outdoor season, Rubenstein placed 2nd in ST, 3rd in DT, and 9th in HT. During A10s, he took 7th in Discus (44.48m) and 9th in Discus. Alati took 7th place at IC4As and 6th place (56.45m) at A10s. Senior George Pomer took 4th overall in the Decathlon during the IC4As (1st Jav. 49.87m / DT 5th / ST 6th) and finished 5th overall in the Decathlon at A10s (3rd Jav. 49.92m / DT 5th / ST 8th).

Junior Sarah Cooley took 7th place in Jav. with a mark of 37.88m. Finally, Leia Ruvo took third overall in the ECACs Heptathlon (3rd Jav. 34.16m / 5th ST) and took second overall in the Heptathlon at A10s (1st Jav. 36.30m / 8th ST).
 

Before Fordham, Kocienda spent one season as the throws coach at Farmingdale State College (2022-23). During the Skyline Conference Championship outdoor meet, the women finished first with the help of throws athletes placing in the top five in all four throwing events (Shot Put: 2nd & 4th; Discus: 2nd; Hammer: 3rd; Javelin: 3rd & 4th).
 

The men’s team finished 2nd place overall, with multiple top-five finishes in all four throwing events (Shot Put: 2nd & 5th; Discus: 2nd & 3rd; Hammer: 1st, 2nd & 5th; Javelin: 1st, 4th, 5th & 6th).
 

At the NJAC Conference Championship meet, the Rams had an 8th-place finish for the men, and in the women’s Heptathlon, the team finished first overall (1st in Shot Put & Javelin Throw) to gain well-needed points.
 

Kocienda was previously a graduate assistant coach at Central Connecticut State, as he finished out his collegiate career in the spring of 2021. He was a Second Team All-Northeast Conference selection in the Hammer Throw, placing second at the NEC Outdoor Championship with a mark of 57.9m. He also finished fifth that season in the Hammer Throw at the IC4A Championship (56.7m) and was a member of the NEC Academic Honor Roll.
 

Prior to CCSU, Kocienda was a four-year member of the track & field team at Manhattan College, earning Second Team All-MAAC in the Weight Throw in 2020, while placing sixth in the Weight Throw at the 113th Millrose Games.
 

He also finished third (2018) and second in Weight Toss (2020) at the Metropolitan Indoor Track & Field Championships and placed second in Hammer Throw at the Metropolitan Outdoor Track & Field Championships (2019).
 

During both indoor and outdoor seasons from 2018 to 2020, he had top-five finishes at the Metropolitan Indoor Track & Field Championships and MAAC Championships in Weight Throw and Hammer Throw. He also qualified for IC4As during the 2018 to 2020 seasons.
 

Kocienda was the New York State champion in the Discus and was also named All-State in the Shot Put as a senior at Seaford High School.