Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Athletics Staff Bios 2021-2022

Monique McLean – Athletic Director

Monique McLean was appointed as the Athletic Director at Trinity Washington University on June 4, 2018. During McLean’s tenure academic standards have been raised, retention has improved and athletic programs have seen significant roster growth and improvement. McLean has hired three exceptional head coaches (soccer, basketball, softball) and restructured the athletic department.

Throughout the pandemic, McLean has continued to be a positive leader by consistently creating virtual content and programming to keep student-athletes engaged despite their absence from campus and sports participation. The department plans to return stronger than ever after suspending sports for the academic year. In addition to her responsibilities on campus, McLean is heavily involved in intercollegiate athletics nationally and regionally. McLean was appointed to the NCAA Division III Membership Committee and has served since October 2019, her appointment will last until 2023. McLean was elected as the President Elect of the Maryland & DC Athletic Administrators Association in June 2020 and recently joined the NCAA Division III Convention Sub-planning Committee (February 2021).

Prior to Trinity, McLean was the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Alfred University from 2015 -2018. McLean quickly demanded academic excellence from her student-athletes, leading to the department awards as the Most Improved Academic Team for consecutive semesters (Fall 2017/Spring 2018). She was also elected as a representative to the WBCA NCAA Division III Coaches’ All-America Committee where she represented Region 2. McLean served as a graduate assistant coach at Bethany College for two seasons before graduating in May 2015 with a Master of Arts degree in Teaching. McLean was a standout women’s basketball player in college, playing four seasons at Division I St. John’s University and earning Big East All-Conference recognition twice. After graduating from St. John’s in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, McLean embarked on a four-year professional playing career in Greece, Slovakia and Puerto Rico.

Christa Burgess – Assistant Athletic Director 

Christa Burgess was appointed Assistant Athletic Director in 2021, she comes to Trinity Washington University as an alumnae student she graduated in 2013 with her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. While at Trinity she was a tri-athlete she played soccer, basketball and lacrosse.  After graduating she continued to pursue her love for sports and fitness to then become a rehab technician where she worked alongside DCs top physical therapists. She worked at Golds Gym in DC as a personal trainer where she trained over 100 clients and lead them to healthy lifestyle changes. Soon after this she decided to start her own business and began training her own clients, as an entrepreneur she worked across the nation training some of the best athletes, politicians, celebrities and more.

Christa loves helping people so all while she was a personal trainer she sought out to help the community, in 2014 she joined AmeriCorps to work for Play works DC a nonprofit organization that helps kids to stay active and build valuable life skills through play. Play works was more than a job, it was a mission to help the youth become better individuals, as she fell in love with the work in 2015 she became a better individual to soon become a first grade elementary teacher in the District of Columbia Public School System. After a year of teaching first grade Christa moved forward to become a Physical Education teacher, she had no idea on the impact she would have on her students. During her time at DCPS Christa was an Athletic Director where she coached Girls on the Run DC, DC Scores Soccer, track and basketball. At her school she led initiatives such as an annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, she hosted school events and worked deeply with non-profit organizations to bring resources into the school. During the summer she was a Sports Camp Director and after school coordinator were she created a safe and fun place for kids to learn, exercise and practice social emotional skills.

Christa is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, which is a community conscious, action oriented organization founded on the principles of scholarship, service, sisterhood and finer womanhood. In 2021 Christa became a Professional Women’s Wellness Body Builder, she traveled around the world to compete and during her first competition she took home third place. Christa joins us bringing back the Trinity spirit, empowering women athletes and striving for excellence in our program.

Jason Gross – Head Women’s Soccer Coach

Jason Gross, a 14-year coaching veteran, joined the Trinity Tigers Women’s soccer staff in 2015 as an assistant coach. In the spring of his third year, he was hired to lead the program as the head coach. Since taking over the Tigers have improved their win percentage and in collaboration with the athletic department created a structure for student-athletes off the field where the team GPA has made significant improvements.

Before his tenure at Trinity, Jason has served the DMV area as an Academy Director who has developed some of the top players in the country including the DC Gatorade Player of Year and several US Youth National Team call ups. His teams have won a State Cup, 3 Regional Championships, and have had the opportunity to compete for several National Championships across various competition formats. As a Coaching Educator, he has provided professional development for coaches at over 50 educational campuses across the Washington D.C. area. Jason also led the high school girls’ soccer program at School Without Walls, a premier academic institution in DCPS, to a DCIAA Championship Final.

Jason was a four-year starter and three-year captain of the Division 1 Men’s Soccer program at Howard University. He received two All-Conference First Team honors and was selected to play professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League for the NJ Ironmen. Jason has played competitively in six countries including France, England, Spain, Germany, Holland, and Norway.

Enoch Thompson – Head Women’s Tennis Coach

Coach Thompson is entering his 10th year as the Head Coach at Trinity Washington University. A 1976 Architecture and Planning graduate of Howard University in Washington, DC, he is an acclaimed educator and certified tennis instructor at all levels of development for budding tennis players throughout the southeastern United States and Washington, DC. Thompson conducted and assisted at numerous tennis camps for juniors and adults in Columbia, SC where he coordinated clinics and player development workshops, ultimately helping young tennis players earn generous, well-deserved college scholarships. Many of his tennis students are still playing at various colleges throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Currently, Thompson is the Head Tennis Coach at Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC and is. He an instructor/contractor with the Washington Department of Parks, a volunteer with the Washington, DC Special Olympics and works tirelessly to create and promote healthy activities for adults and juniors throughout his community. Thompson has remained active in the architectural community, having continued to be involved with the American Institute of Architects Associates, the National Organization of Minority Architects, the Construction Specifications Institute, and the National Technical Association. Thompson also has served as Cub Scout Master, baseball coach and program director, and is an active member of Saint Anthony Catholic Church. He volunteers with the Young Masters Rites of Passage Program. Mr. Thompson and his wife are the parents of five children and three grandchildren who also enjoy the game of tennis.

Isaiah Johnson – Head Women’s Basketball Coach

Coach Johnson is entering his second season as the Head Coach at Trinity Washington University. He is originally from Syracuse NY, where he began his coaching career at the high school level and helped several female athletes receive Division 1 athletic scholarships. Coach Johnson has worked in the District of Columbia as a teacher for over 6 years. He coached a middle school boys’ basketball team and led them to the school’s first championship on a local and regional level. Coach Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in Physical Education and a master’s certificate in Sports Analytics from American University in Washington D.C. He is excited about his team at Trinity Washington University and their tremendous opportunity for success!