Hamilton Southeastern High School

FISHERS, Ind. — Hamilton Southeastern High School is proud to announce the hiring of Josh Puccinelli as the next Head Coach of the HSE Boys Cross Country program pending Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board of Trustees approval. Puccinelli brings a strong background in distance running and program development to Hamilton Southeastern after serving as an assistant coach at several successful Indiana programs, most recently at Carmel High School from 2022-2026. He has also previously coached at West Lafayette High School and Fishers High School. “Josh’s mix of experience, knowledge, and rapport with athletes makes him a great coach,” said Carmel Boys Cross Country Coach Colin Altevogt. “He has an excellent understanding of the importance of relationship building and demonstrated that throughout his time at Carmel.” Hamilton Southeastern Athletic Director Drew Tower expressed excitement about the future of the program under Puccinelli’s leadership. “Josh is a passionate and driven leader who understands what it takes to build a championship culture,” Tower said. “He has a tremendous vision for developing young men both on and off the course, and we are excited for the future of HSE Boys Cross Country under his leadership.” Puccinelli said the opportunity to lead one of Indiana’s premier cross country programs was one he could not pass up. “Hamilton Southeastern is one of the premier athletic and academic schools in the state of Indiana,” Puccinelli said. “The boys cross country program has a rich tradition, highlighted by 18 top-10 state meet finishes over the past 24 years, two state runner-up finishes, 11 All-State athletes, and two individual state champions. The opportunity to lead a program with that level of tradition and excellence, and to build upon the foundation Coach Joe Golden established, was something I could not pass up.” Puccinelli believes the Royals program has all the pieces necessary to compete at the highest level in the state. “What excites me most about leading this program is that it has all the ingredients necessary to compete for a state championship,” he said. “The talent, the support, and the culture to achieve something special. The opportunity to help take this team to a place it has not been before is incredibly motivating.” While competitive excellence remains a major goal, Puccinelli emphasized that athlete growth and relationships will remain at the center of the program. “What matters most is the opportunity to invest in young men and help them grow as teammates, competitors, friends, and leaders,” Puccinelli said. “I want our athletes to develop confidence, character, and belief in themselves through the sport of cross country.” Puccinelli’s coaching philosophy centers on accountability, self-belief, teamwork, and commitment to the process. “I want our athletes to set goals that excite and challenge them, then back them up with consistency, discipline, and teamwork,” he said. “The strongest teams are built when athletes are willing to put the group ahead of themselves.” Puccinelli shared a message of gratitude and excitement to current athletes and families entering this next chapter of HSE Boys Cross Country. “To the families, I do not take lightly the trust you place in me and my staff,” Puccinelli said. “My goal is to create an environment where your sons are challenged, supported, safe, and excited to be part of something special. To the student-athletes, I want this program to be something you are proud to represent,” he added. “We will pursue excellence and chase ambitious goals together, but I also want every athlete, regardless of role, to feel valued and connected.” Puccinelli earned his Bachelor of Science in Management from Purdue University in 2018 and recently completed his Project Management Certificate through Cornell University in 2025. Professionally, he currently works as an Implementation Associate at Archway Group. Looking ahead, Puccinelli made clear the standard he hopes to establish within the program. “I will not shy away from saying that the standard of this program is competing for state championships,” he said. “At the same time, everything in this sport is earned and nothing is given. I want to build a culture defined by high standards, accountability, and unmatched commitment.” Hamilton Southeastern Athletics is excited to welcome Coach Puccinelli to the Royals family and looks forward to the continued growth and success of the boys cross country program under his leadership. HSE Boys Cross Country families are invited to the kickoff meeting Tuesday, June 2nd from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm in CCA Cafeteria at HSE High School.