Marvin Hawkins was named head coach of the Hunter College men’s and women’s cross country and track and field programs in August 2022. Since taking the helm, Hawkins has guided the Hawks to multiple CUNYAC team titles and postseason appearances. In 2024–25, he led the women’s cross country team to its tenth consecutive CUNYAC Championship and a 19th-place finish at the NCAA Division III Niagara Regional. Six runners earned All-Star recognition, including conference Rookie of the Year Mikaelle Cesar and top-10 finishers Wendy Montiel and Samantha Suriel.
On the men’s side, Hawkins guided the Hawks to their fourth straight CUNYAC title and an 18th-place finish at the regional meet. The team was led by CUNYAC Championship MVP Mateo Penafiel, while standout freshman Melvil Badier was named Rookie of the Year.
Hawkins brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to Hunter, including 28 seasons as head coach at Irving High School. His programs captured 25 team championships and 301 individual titles at the conference, county, state, and national levels. He has coached 18 All-American athletes and holds USATF Level 1 certification.
A former standout runner at Essex Catholic High School (1970–74), Hawkins went on to compete at Seton Hall University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education. He is known for his commitment to building programs that value both competitive success and academic achievement.
Director of Athletics Terry Wansart praised Hawkins upon his hiring, saying: “He brings his long-standing teaching skills to the team, with the value of recruiting, retaining, and graduating student-athletes. I am confident his enthusiasm, expertise, and proven track record will keep the Hawks competitive for years to come.”
