Bloss is embarking on his fourth year as an assistant coach with Pacific men's and women's track and field and cross country teams.
He’s had a keen interest in cross country and track & field since competing as a high school athlete in his hometown of Syracuse, NY. In 2017, he was inducted into the Bishop Grimes HS Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the school’s 1973 state championship cross country team. The first team officially granted this honor and the school’s only statewide title.
He holds a bachelor's degree in social science from Oswego State University—geography major and economics minor. He also earned a Masters of Public Administration from the University at Albany’s Graduate School of Public Affairs. Both institutions are part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system.
He has competed as a self-coached recreational athlete over many years and has taken part in a wide variety of events including; Hood to Coast relay, Seattle to Portland, Cycle Oregon, triathlon and half marathon.
At Pacific, he assists other coaches with practices and meet operations, in addition to a variety of administrative tasks including enhancing recruiting capabilities and program development. He is a certified USATF Level One coach and apprentice meet official.
Since moving to Oregon in 2000, he’s held key managerial positions at OHSU, City View Charter School and TriMet’s capital projects division. He’s also been involved in a number of non-profit organizations including Marathon Scholars as a mentor, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance as a board member, and Cycle Oregon as an event volunteer.
Bloss has been involved in the work as a researcher and editor on a biography of former Oregon governor Victor Atiyeh. The book, authored by Prof. Jim Moore of Pacific University, is set to be published by Oregon State University Press.
John and his partner, Pacific University Biology faculty member Lisa Sardinia, live in Gaston with their dog Shasta.
