ITHACA, N.Y. -- Joanna Novakovic '03, who has led the Cornell equestrian program to new heights over more than a decade in the saddle as the program's head coach, has announced that she will retire from coaching following the completion of the 2025 season. Novakovic served as the sixth head coach in program history.

"Joanna leaves Cornell having led the program to unprecedented success at the local, regional, and national levels," said Dr. Nicki Moore, the Meakem & Smith Director of Athletics & Physical Education. "She has been a champion for her student-athletes, staff, and horses throughout her coaching career, and has represented Cornell with excellence. Though I regret that Coach Jo is retiring from collegiate coaching, I wish her  tremendous joy and continued success in her next step in life."

"I am so proud of what this program has accomplished during my tenure - they are an amazing group," Novakovic said. "I know they will continue this upward trajectory in the years to come. They have given as much to me as I have to them and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with them, the wonderful horses, and my great volunteers."

Under Novakovic's guidance, the Big Red qualified as a team for the IHSA national championships for the first time in school history in 2016 finishing seventh overall. The year prior, Shana Coffey won the school's first individual national championship in Novice Fences. Chelsea Huss was named the Reserve Champion in Open Fences that same year. Cornell has won nine consecutive regional titles and seven of the past eight Ivy Show titles. The Big Red finished second at the Zone Championships as a team in both 2016 and 2019, and has qualified nine riders for the 2025 Zone Championships. 

Cornell won 58 shows during her tenure, including 31 in the past four seasons alone. Individually, the Big Red has qualified 17 riders for nationals and Georgiana de Rham '15 finished fourth for the prestigious Cacchione Cup in 2015, the best finish by a Big Red student-athlete in program history.