Jeff DeGraw has been chosen as the head coach of JJC's new men's and women's track and field teams. He has been the head coach of the college's men’s and women’s cross country teams for three years.
The Wolves have enjoyed much success under Coach DeGraw's leadership. His 2021 men's team captured the NJCAA Division III title, scoring 91 points to edge out two-time defending champion Mineral Area College (MO), who scored 97 points. The JJC women's team entered the national meet as the defending champs, ranked first coming into the meet. However, the Wolves placed second to Oxford Emory (GA), scoring 57 points to the Eagles' 40. Coach DeGraw was named NJCAA DIII Men's Coach of the Year and Central Region Women's Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
His 2020 teams also enjoyed great success despite competing under COVID-19 restrictions, with the women's team winning the NJCAA DIII national championship and the men's team finishing national runner-up. Coach DeGraw was awarded the NJCAA DIII Women's Coach of the Meet at the national championship as well as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Central Region Women's Coach of the Year honors.
In addition, the Wolves were awarded the NJCAA DIII Gary Moore Award for Best Overall Program, which honors the college with the best combined men's and women's programs, in 2020 and 2021.
DeGraw has more than 20 years of collegiate cross country and track & field coaching experience, having coached at the junior college, NCAA Division II and III levels. He was named NCAA Division II Track & Field National Coach of the Year twice and has had five different teams finish in the top four at the NCAA National Track & Field Meet. He has also built tremendous distance programs at each level of coaching, and has now had eight different cross country teams place in the top four at the national meet during his career. He has also coached numerous national champions and All-Americans at each level.
DeGraw graduated from the University of Mount Union in Ohio, and has a master’s degree from Fayetteville State University in North Carolina.
He also covers sports for the Joliet Herald-News and hosts Will County Sports on WJOL 1340 AM.
He resides in Lockport with his wife, Mary. They have one son, Matt, who is also a part of the JJC Athletics family, serving as the pitching coach for the Wolves baseball team.
