Kean University

James Luginsland is in his second season at Kean University as the Throws & Jumps coach.

In his first year, he coached NJAC All-Conference Honorable Mention Shamil Dixon (Discus) and three ECAC medalists John Tan (Shot Put), Justin McDougald (Hammer) and Shamil Dixon (Discus). In addition, Coach Luginsland installed the Hammer Throw Program at Kean and had Justin McDougald break the 15-year-old school record in the Hammer Throw (43.23m; 141'10"). Both Justin and Dave Louis hold all the top 5 Hammer Throw marks in program history.

Luginsland had previous stops as an assistant coach at Bridgewater-Raritan HS (2025), Middlesex College (2023), College of Staten Island (2019-2023), Montclair State (2012, 2017-19), NJIT (2015-17), Stevens (2014-15) and Essex College (2013-14). During his time spent coaching College and High School, he has coached 8 national qualifiers and over 50 All-Conference Honors. Most notably, while at Montclair State, he coached the nations #1 Javelin thrower in NCAA DIII and 2018 NJAC Champion, Lia Negra (46.45m; 152'5").


He also coached at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials (Eugene, Oregon), coached NJCAA All-American High Jumper & Triple Jumper Tonna Ogina (Middlesex) and served as the Head Coach of both the Cross Country and Track & Field Programs at Union County College in 2023. UCNJ had Tommy Flanagan set the school record in the Javelin (58.05m; 190'5") and was named NJCAA All-American in the Javelin.


Luginsland is also heavily involved in USATF. He serves as both a member of the Executive Committee for Coaching Education and as an Instructor for L1 Coaching Education Program.

A four-year letter winner and captain in 2010-11 at Montclair State, Luginsland recorded personal bests in the Shot Put (13.62m), Discus (35.96m) and Hammer (44.80m). He holds Certifications in USATF L3 Throws, USATF L2 Jumps, USATF XC Specialist and USTFCCCA S&C.

In addition to coaching at Kean, he is a full-time teacher at Perth Amboy Magnet School and has served as an adjunct instructor in chemistry at Kean, UCNJ, Middlesex.  He holds both a master's from FDU-Florham and a bachelor's degree from Montclair State in Chemistry. His younger brother Gregory Luginsland was a Javelin thrower for Kean in 2010.

Updated 11-5-26