Jordon Garman was promoted to the head coach of cross country in 2022 after three years as an assistant. He oversees all aspects of the men's and women’s distance programs.
The women’s team has been on an upward trajectory during his time. Since taking the reins, he has coached an ASUN champion, had multiple JU track distance event records set, and helped distance runners contribute championship points on the track. In 2025, at the most competitive ASUN XC championship to date, the women averaged 18:25 for 5k to finish 4 points away from placing in the top half of the conference. The aforementioned was the culmination of 4 years spent developing many of the lady dolphins, who had never run faster than 20 minutes for 5k in high school, into 18 minute 5kers and faster.
With Garman’s leadership, the men have consistently improved their athletic performances by seeing a reduction in average 8k times from 30+ minutes (prior to 2020) to regularly running in the 26’s present-day. During his time, 4 men have made it on to the JU 8k XC all-time list, including Jack Bolan and Thomas Hellenbrand who both ran under 26 minutes for the distance. Hellenbrand was also the first JU XC man to run under 15 minutes for the track 5000m in over 20 years.
Both sides have excelled in the classroom with his guidance. The men and women have maintained GPAs above 3.3 and 3.4, respectively. In 2024-25, the men earned GPA records for the spring semester (3.63), and entire year (3.49 cumulative).
He received a M.S. Kinesiology from Jacksonville University in 2018, where he graduated with a 4.0 GPA and competed as an athlete for two years. Prior to grad school, he graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. Nutrition and Dietetics and minor in public health from the University of North Florida (2016). Garman also holds USTFCCCA Endurance Specialist and USATF Level 1 Track & Field Coach certifications.
He is married to Olivia and they have one son. A native of Stuart, FL, Garman is an avid reader and runner, having run a 2:34 to finish 3rd overall in the 2025 Jacksonville Marathon. He also has multiple peer-reviewed research publications.
| PAST RUNNER PROGRESSION |
Times on TFRRS |
| Athlete (years coached) |
PR before Garman |
PR w/ Garman |
| Jack Bolan (2023-2026) |
5k- 16:09 |
5k- 15:18 |
| |
1600- 4:30 |
1500- 3:59.54 |
| |
8kXC- 28:46 |
8kXC- 25:36 (JU #4) |
| Jordan Dix (2022-2026) |
800- 2:33.93 |
Mile- 5:12.83 |
| |
2 mile- 14:36 |
5k- 18:18 |
| |
5kXC- 20:54 |
10k- 37:29 |
| Victor Farfan (2022-2024) |
3200- 10:42 |
5k- 15:17 |
| |
1600- 4:25 |
1500- 3:58.09 |
| |
5kXC- 16:26 |
8kXC- 26:12 |
| Hayleigh Haid, nee Palotti (2022-2023) |
3kSteeple- 10:09 |
3kSteeple- 10:04 (JU #1) |
| |
5k- 16:48 |
5k- 16:29 (JU #1) |
| Thomas Hellebrand (2021-2025) |
5kXC- 16:46 |
5k- 14:52 |
| |
|
8kXC- 25:49 (JU #8) |
| Riley Maher (2021-2023) |
3200- 10:38 |
5k- 15:45 |
| |
5kXC- 17:33 |
8kXC- 26:07 (#11) |
| |
|
10kXC- 33:14 |
| Owen Skelton (2020-2024) |
3200- 10:51 |
5k- 15:54 |
| |
5kXC- 17:29 |
8kXC- 26:59 |
| Madeline Weiler (2022-2026) |
1600- 5:37 |
Mile- 5:07.37 |
| |
3200- 12:16 |
3k- 10:32 |
| |
5kXC- 21:00 |
5k- 18:06 |
