Coaching Staff
Denis Mohun (Girl Varsity Cross Country – Head Coach) – Coach Mohun has been a cross-country coach for the past 23 years, spending the first 9 years of his career at Sacred Heart Cathedral in San Francisco. Mr. Mohun came to Saint
Mary’s in 1998 and since that time has produced some the finest distance runners in the North Coast Section. In 1999, the Saint Mary’s girls cross country team won the school’s first ever North Coast Section title. Since that time, Mr. Mohun’s teams have amassed a 91 – 7 league record, won 7 league titles, have produced three individual North Coast Section Champions (Bridget Duffy, Gabi Rios-Sotelo, Spencer Moore), have had individuals place in the top 10 at the California State Championships five different times and in 2007 and 2008 his Lady Panther teams won league and NCS championships before finishing 2nd at the California State Championships. A Chico State track and cross country alumnus, Mr. Mohun lives in Pleasant Hill with his wife Tiffany and their son Chase.
Jeff Rogers (Boys Varsity Cross Country – Head Coach) – Coach Rogers joined the Saint Mary’s cross country staff in 1999, becoming the boys varsity head coach in 2003. In his time as head coach, the Panthers have amassed an
impressive 62 – 9 league record. Since 2005, the Panther boy squads have won 5 straight BSAL championships, 3 North Coast Section Championships, and have placed in the top 10 at the State Championships 6 straight seasons. Individually, the Panthers have produced several league, North Coast Section and All-State performers, including current Brown University standout Matt Duffy (2006, 2007 NCS Champ) and Claremont McKenna sophomore Dan Maxwell (2008, 2009 NCS Runner-Up). Coach Rogers was himself a former track and field athlete, having competed in the high jump at U.C. Berkeley, where he earned All-American honors and is still the school’s high-jump record-holder. He lives in Oakland with his wife Molly and their two daughters.
Jay Lawson (Boys JV Cross Country – Head Coach ) – Coach Lawson is one of the most respected track and running coaches in the North Coast Section and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the cross country coaching
staff. Having coached track and field at Saint Mary’s since 1987, coach Lawson begins his 3rd season as the JV boys cross country coach. Under his tutelage a year ago, the JV Boys amassed a 7 – 1 league record and went on to win the JV Boys Championship race at the BSAL Championships. Championships are not new to the Lawson name, however, as Coach Lawson’s daughter, Taylor, is a former cross country league MVP and All-NCS performer. Mr. Lawson himself is a former (and current) track & field athlete who still ranks among the top 10 on Mary’s all-time 400/800m lists. A former 200 and 400 runner while at U.C. Davis, Coach Lawson has recently begun competing again, placing 5th in the 400 meters at the World Master’s Championships this past summer.
Kim Pacatte (Girls JV Cross Country – Head Coach) – Coach Pacatte is entering her second year as the JV Girls Head Coach. In her inaugural 2011 season,
the JV Girls went undefeated in league competition, capping the season by capturing both the BSAL Team Championship and the JV girls Individual League Championship. A former runner at Sacred Heart Cathedral in San Francisco, Coach Pacatte was an accomplished runner in her own right. Coach Pacatte is a former CAL Bear, teaches English here at Saint Mary’s and just recently moved from San Francisco back to Berkeley.