From the football field to the athletics office, new athletic director Isaiah Coleman is ready to bring change and commitment to MFS Athletics.
A New Jersey local, Coleman grew up in Mercer County as well as attended Lawrence High School, and eventually went on to play Division II college football at Slippery Rock University. Coleman comes to MFS from the Cannon School in Concord, North Carolina, where he served as the Assistant Director of Athletics.
Despite his position in Concord, when the MFS Athletic Director position opened up, Coleman knew it would be a fantastic opportunity to come back to his roots.
“My wife and I decided to start looking for jobs closer to home so we could get the support of our family. On a professional note, I was looking for that next jump and an opportunity to lead an athletic department,” Coleman said.
Coleman is already feeling welcomed and at home within the MFS community.
“Everyone in the community has been really welcoming, giving me space to grow and even fail, or make a mistake. I can really just tell that people here have your back and that has been the best part,” shared Coleman.
Jude Sansevero ’25 is looking forward to what MFS can accomplish with a new head of athletics.
“My expectations are [for] a better, more organized athletics program and hopefully we’ll be able to see those results on the fields within our teams and the general atmosphere.”
As a first-time athletic director, Coleman brings many new ideas and thoughts to the table. One of his main goals is to build community.
“Students may feel like they aren’t the best athlete or the most experienced, but I want everybody who touches this athletics program to feel welcomed and be a part of something much bigger,” Coleman said.
Coleman is also focused on increasing participation in MFS athletics.
“Based on last year’s enrollment numbers, under 40% of last year’s Upper School students participated in at least one sport. That is a very low number, and I would love to see that number go up.”
Moorestown Friends officially switched into the Burlington County Scholastic League during the Winter 2023 season, which Coleman sees as a big opportunity for all MFS sports teams.
“There’s no reason why any of our teams can’t be competitive in this league,” Coleman said. “My expectation is to compete but also win because again, we are now competing with competition who are more local and more similar to our makeup, with us being a smaller school.”
Coleman also discussed the importance of respect in MFS athletics.
“[MFS has] an expectation of being first class, showing up in this league and modeling what it means to be a first-class program with students who are respectful to not only their team, but to the opposing team, the officials, and the opposing environment,” he said.
Students like Joshua Carroll ‘25 are excited for what the future holds with Coleman in charge of the MFS Athletic Department.
“He brings a lot of positive energy and excitement and I’m really hoping he’ll bring a lot of new and fresh ideas,” Carroll said.
