Coach Michael Moffitt Jr. has joined Eastern Athletics as the new head of both Cross Country and Track and Field. Moffitt was born in California but was raised in Marion, Indiana which is about twenty minutes from his alma matter Indiana Wesleyan University. After graduating with degrees in political science and
psychology, Moffitt coached the jumpers and sprinters at IWU for three and a half years while he got his masters in Sports Administration at Fresno Pacific University.
Moffitt played both basketball and football before starting high jump during his junior year of high school where he was coached by his mother. His mother was an Olympic Alternative in the high jump in 1984 and 1988. She also coached his sister Janaé in the high jump. Janaé has won four Big Ten high jump championships during her track career at Purdue University. Moffitt’s father was also a professional athlete who played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers after playing football at Fresno State University.
Moffitt began his collegiate athletic career in basketball but decided to switch to track due to an injury. He was able to compete in track for four years following this to use up his track and field eligibility. Moffitt was able to win back-to-back NAIA national championships in high jump and six Christian College national championships. He also was awarded Field Athlete of the Year for the National Christian College Association. Moffitt had the opportunity to travel around the world to compete in Korea and New Zealand as well as train at Olympic facilities with the Olympic record holder of high jump. He holds the school record at IWU with a 7’2” jump, where he missed the Olympic trials by only a half inch.
After visiting Indiana Wesleyan University Moffitt decided it was the best place for him spiritually, athletically, and physically, and decided to go there for school instead of the other D1 programs he was considering. He hopes to encourage a culture on the track team of trust and understanding where the mental and physical health of the athletes are put first. He wants the team to be a place where the team can thrive in all aspects of their lives. Moffitt thinks that it is important for a coach to be flexible to
every athlete’s individual needs and tries to be as empathetic and understanding towards his athletes as possible.
The woman’s track team recently won the Indoor Track and Field MAC championships and Coach Moffitt would like to build on this as well as push the program to be even more competitive and successful. So far, he is enjoying the beautiful campus and encouraging, welcoming faculty here at Eastern. Moffitt is excited to encourage and grow with the athletes on the track and field team in order to lead them to being a national-level team.