York College welcomes Jesse Cheema as its new assistant men’s and women’s cross country coach ahead of the 2026 season.
“I am thrilled to join York College as the new Assistant Cross Country Coach. Having coached cross country for many years, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to return to the collegiate level with such a promising program. The Cardinals family has been incredibly welcoming, and I look forward to working with our student-athletes to build a competitive, high-achieving athletic program,” said Cheema
Cheema brings nearly a decade of coaching experience, serving as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s cross country programs at his alma mater, John Jay College, from 2014–23.
During his time with the Bloodhounds, Cheema helped lead both programs to significant success, developing student-athletes who earned numerous conference and postseason accolades.
On the men’s side, Cheema guided John Jay to a second-place finish at the 2014 CUNYAC Championships, while coaching three individual top-five finishers, including the 2015 CUNYAC individual champion, and six top-10 performers. He coached the 2015 CUNYAC Cross Country Performer of the Year and developed 10 additional CUNYAC All-Conference honorees, awarded to student-athletes who finished among the top 15 at the conference championship meet. Cheema also guided seven student-athletes to CUNYAC Sportsmanship Team honors, with the program earning the CUNYAC Sportsmanship Award in 2016.
On the women’s side, Cheema helped lead John Jay to six top-three finishes at the CUNYAC Championships, including conference team runner-up finishes highlighted by individual success throughout his tenure. The program produced seven individual top-five CUNYAC Championship finishers, including individual champions in 2016 and 2022. Those championship performances also produced CUNYAC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year honors in 2016 and 2022, while a runner-up finish at the 2018 CUNYAC Championships resulted in a Rookie of the Year selection. Cheema also developed 14 additional CUNYAC All-Conference honorees and eight Sportsmanship Team selections.At the ECAC Championships, John Jay student-athletes earned an individual title in 2022 and a third-place finish in 2016.
Following his tenure at John Jay, Cheema became head coach of the Boys and Girls Running Program at Liberty High School. Under his leadership, Cheema grew the program from a small club into competitive boys’ and girls’ teams while establishing a partnership with New York Road Runners (NYRR) that provided student-athletes with racing opportunities, trips and athletic gear.
Cheema currently serves as a high school physical education and health teacher.
Before beginning his coaching career, Cheema was a two-year member of the John Jay cross country program from 2012–13. Cheema competed in eight meets during his career, posting a personal-best 8K time of 31:38.4 at the NCAA Division III Atlantic Region Cross Country Championships.
A 2013 graduate of John Jay College, Cheema earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice before going on to earn a Master of Science in Physical Education from Queens College.
Cheema resides in Queens, New York, with his wife and their daughter.
