Ajani Clunie begins his seventh year as Manager of Athletic Communications here at John Jay College. Clunie is a vital contributor to the John Jay Athletic Communications staff, as he has helped produce original digital and audio content for the Bloodhounds. He has assisted on several video streams as a play-by-play announcer for volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball games, while also filling in as a public address announcer and emcee for various John Jay events and contests.
Clunie completed his Bachelor's Degree in Broadcasting and Mass Communications from SUNY Oswego in 2007 and obtained a Master's Degree in Sport Management from Brooklyn College in 2012.
In addition to his role on the Athletic Communications staff, Clunie serves as the Bloodhounds' head women's soccer coach. 2025 marks his fifth season serving as benchboss.
In total, since joining the staff, Clunie has overseen 82 wins and 38 CUNYAC victories. As benchboss of the Bloodhounds, beginning in 2021, Clunie has amassed 39 triumphs, which include three CUNYAC league championships and three undefeated seasons in the last four seasons. Clunie has mentored four of the previous five CUNYAC Players of the Year, with former Bloodhound stalwart Katie Healy winning the award twice (2019 & 2022). The Bloodhounds have won the award for the last three seasons. He has also guided the development of three Rookie of the Year winners - Kimberly Robledo (2017), Gianna Russo (2018), and Mikayla Schoch (2022). For his efforts, Clunie has produced 33 CUNYAC All-Stars and has been honored with three Coach of the Year recognitions, the most in program history.
In 2024, he led the Bloodhounds back to the league championship as John Jay posted a 10-6-1 overall record and a 5-0 mark in league play. After starting the season 1-5-1, the Bloodhounds went on a nine-match win streak, outscoring their opposition 57-6. The Bloodhounds placed among the top teams in the country, as the team finished third in assists per game (3.41), fourth in scoring offense (3.88), eighth in total assists (58), 13th in total points (190), and among the top 20 in total goals (66). Olivia Boucher rewrote the program's single-season total goals mark, finishing with 24, which was the seventh-highest mark in the country. Boucher was second in the NCAA in goals per game at 1.41.
In 2023, the team was one of the highest-scoring teams in the nation, finishing third in points per game at 11.50 and boasting the top scoring offense in the country, averaging 4.64 goals per game. Nora O'Connor spearheaded the offense, finishing third in the nation in goals per game (1.57) and points per game (3.57) en route to setting a then-program single-season record with 22 goals. O'Connor finished third in the country in goals per game and points per game while placing among the top ten in total goals and total points.
In 2022, Clunie led the Bloodhounds to the program's third CUNYAC Championship as the team matched the program's mark for most wins, finishing with a 12-3-2 overall record and an unblemished 5-0 mark in league play. The team notched its most home victories in program history with six. Among all Division III schools, the Bloodhounds ranked 18th in the nation in scoring offense (3.29) while ranking among the top-50 in several categories - shots per game (20.18), shots on goal per game (11.71), total goals (56), total assists (41), and total points (153). The Bloodhounds swept the major CUNYAC awards while tallying a program-best nine all-conference selections. Katie Healy won her second Player of the Year award to close out her illustrious career. She finished with ten goals and eight assists on the season. She became the first-ever women's soccer player in program history to record 100 career points and left as the all-time career goals leader, surpassing her former teammate Kimberly Robledo. Healy finished with 43 career goals, 36 assists, and 122 career points. Clunie earned his second straight Coach of the Year award.
Clunie and the Bloodhounds clinched their second straight league championship in 2021, defeating Brooklyn College, 1-0, on Brooke Fontaine's game-winning goal in the 76th minute. John Jay finished the year 9-6 overall and went 4-0 in league play. The Bloodhounds had five All-Conference selections, with Clunie garnering his first-ever Coach of the Year award.
As Associate Head Coach, Clunie was part of the staff that claimed the program's first-ever CUNYAC title. That season, Healy garnered her first Player of the Year award. The Bloodhounds had a total of five All-Conference players. Robledo finished her collegiate tenure as the all-time career leader in goals scored with 38 before Healy surpassed her total.
The Brooklyn, NY native has an extensive background in soccer coaching. In 2023, Clunie obtained a UEFA B License while completing the necessary coursework in Germany. Additionally, he holds a Level 1 FA coaching badge, a USC Level 5 Diploma, and a USC Level 1 Goalkeeping Diploma.
Clunie coached South Bronx United (2011-2017) while working with the Boys U11, U12, U13, and Girls U19 programs. From 2013 to 2016, he was one of the inaugural coaches for the New York Cosmos Training and Development Program.
During his time with the Cosmos, he was a coach and trainer for the U9 girls and U13 boys at Rivertowns United Football Club in Ardsley, NY. There, he was directly responsible for planning and developing training sessions as well as managing games alongside the head coach.
From 2010 to 2012, Clunie's passion and love for the game helped him secure a volunteer gameday marketing position with the New York Red Bulls.
Clunie completed his Bachelor's Degree in Broadcasting and Mass Communications from SUNY Oswego in 2007 and obtained a Master's Degree in Sport Management from Brooklyn College in 2012.
