Former Pro Athlete brings 15 years of Olympic, World Championship Coaching Experience
ATLANTA – August 3, 2023 – Tom Nohilly will be the next head coach of Atlanta Track Club Elite, the Club announced Thursday, concluding an international search. After nearly 15 years of successfully launching and coaching elite training groups in the New York City metro area, Nohilly will relocate to Running City USA next month to lead the build-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“Atlanta Track Club is unique in the strong support system it’s created for its athletes,” said Nohilly. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the individual athletes, and sharing my knowledge and experience to help this talented group excel and compete at the top level nationally and internationally.”
Nohilly comes to Atlanta Track Club from Empire Elite Track Club, which he co-founded in 2021 and where he has served as co-head coach. Prior to Empire Elite, Nohilly spent 11 years as an assistant coach for New Jersey New York Track Club, where he coached middle-distance athletes to World Championship and Olympic teams.
“It is important for me to recognize all the great athletes I’ve had the opportunity to work with at Empire Elite and NJNY,” said Nohilly. “Without these dedicated and talented athletes, I would not have succeeded as a coach to this point.”
At NJNY, Nohilly worked under legendary head coach Frank Gagliano, who is widely considered one of the greatest middle-distance coaches in American track and field history. There, Nohilly honed his coaching philosophy.
“Tom believes that strength is speed, and he believes in the enclave effect of tight-knit training groups,” said Kenah, a two-time World Championship bronze medalist in the 800 meters who was coached by “Gags” at Georgetown University and later as a professional athlete where he and Nohilly were training partners. “Atlanta Track Club has a vision of being the best middle-distance group in the country and among the best in the world. I am confident that Tom is the coach who will get us there.”
Nohilly was the 1989 NCAA Champion in the steeplechase at the University of Florida. Following his collegiate career, he was a three-time U.S. runner-up in the steeplechase and represented the United States at the 1995 and 1997 World Championships. He was also a member of Team USA at the 1999 World Cross Country Championships.
In Atlanta, Nohilly will lead a group of accomplished athletes that includes two of America’s top 800m runners, Olivia Baker and Allie Wilson as well as American indoor record-holder Shane Streich. He will report to the Club’s Director of High Performance, Eric Heintz. Additional athlete and coaching updates will be announced in the coming weeks.
A native of Queens, New York, Nohilly has a degree in exercise and sport sciences. He will relocate to Atlanta with his wife, Kim. They are the parents of three adult children, Eion, Kathryn and Brooke.
About Atlanta Track Club
Atlanta Track Club is a nonprofit committed to creating an active and healthy Atlanta. Through running and walking, Atlanta Track Club motivates, inspires and engages the community to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
With more than 30,000 members, Atlanta Track Club is the second largest running organization in the United States. In addition to the AJC Peachtree Road Race (peachtreeroadrace.org) – the largest 10K running event in the world, the Publix Atlanta Marathon, PNC Atlanta 10 Miler and Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, Atlanta Track Club directs more than 30 events per year. Through the support of its members and volunteers, Atlanta Track Club also maintains a number of community initiatives including organizing and promoting the Kilometer Kids youth running program to metro Atlanta youth, honoring high school cross country and track and field athletes through Atlanta Track Club’s All-Metro Banquets and supporting the Grady Bicycle EMT program. For more information on Atlanta Track Club, visit atlantatrackclub.org.
