USATF COACHING EDUCATION
USATF CALENDAR OF SCHOOLS
https://www.usatf.org/programs/coaches/calendar-of-schools
- July 8-10 Level 1 – Zoom #2022-27 (Pacific Time)
- July 16-17 Cross Country Specialist Course – Zoom #2022-2 (Eastern Time)
- July 19-22 Level 2 – Butler University, IN
- July 23-24 Level 1 – North Central College, Naperville, IL
- July 23-24 Level 1 – Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA
- Aug 6-7 Level 1 – South County High School, Lorton, VA
- Aug 12-15 Level 1 – Zoom #2022-32 (Central Time)
- Sept 30 – Oct 2 Level 1 – Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- Oct 2 – Nov 12 Level 2 – Weekend Program
- Oct 8-9 Level 1 – Alhambra High School, Phoenix, AZ
*Additional dates for Zoom Level 1 Schools coming to the USATF Calendar of Schools soon.
Last chance for the USATF Cross Country Specialist Course Before the Fall Season
earn about the discipline of cross country from one of the country’s top high school coaches Scott Christensen, and Cross Country Council Chair, Thom Hunt. Based on the methodology of Legend Coach, Joe Vigil, topics covered include periodization for the cross country season, team building strategies, and long-term athlete development for the endurance runner.
Special guest Dr. Brian Zuleger, associate professor of psychology and esteemed mental strength coach, will discuss mental strength training, including the concepts of motivation, well-being, resilience, and sport psychology for the coach.
The 10-hour course is live on Zoom, July 16-17 and open to adult USATF members. Registration includes access to all live sessions and electronic course booklet. Members successfully completing the course will earn a USATF Cross Country Skill Specialist certificate.
For more information, visit: https://www.usatf.org/programs/coaches/calendar-of-schools
Save 20% on USATF Campus Courses for a Limited Time
USATF Campus is the online learning platform available to all coaches, athletes and educators looking to better understand human performance. Courses are developed by renowned coaches including Joe Vigil, coach to numerous Olympic athletes, and sports science experts such as Dr. Christine Brooks, Instructor of High Performance at the University of Florida.
USATF Campus boasts 15 courses, and among the titles available include Fundamentals of Training Science, Sport Specific Strength and Power, Basic Science of Sprinting, and the Science of Fatigue.
Each course is self-paced, packed with 3-4 hours of content (lectures, resources and quizzes) and includes a certificate of completion. Courses are open to both USATF members and non-members.
Use promo code SAVE20 for 20% off all USATF Campus courses (excluding bundles and USATF Professional Pathway courses, Level 1, 2, and 3). Offer is valid through August 31st, 2022.
Learn more at: usatfcampus.myabsorb.com
Spotlighting the Newest Class of USATF Level 1 Instructors
USATF is excited to announce the newest cohort for the USATF Instructor Training Course. The hybrid course presents a bridge between adult learning best practices and the Level 1 curriculum. The 16 members selected will converge in Indianapolis, IN on July 18th and then be a mentee at a 2022 Level 1 School to complete their certificate requirements.
Parker Daniells (Rocklin, California/USATF Pacific) is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Distance Coach at William Jessup University. He received his master’s degree in Exercise Science and Ph.D. in Performance Psychology. While head coach, his men’s team won the California Pacific Conference in ’11, ’12 and ’13 and he was awarded Men’s Conference Coach of the Year for the three consecutive years. Daniells holds USATF Level 2 for both Endurance and Sprints / Hurdles / Relays and is CISSN certified.
Sean Denard (Los Angeles, California/USATF Southern California) is an Assistant Throws Coach at UCLA. Denard has coached 6 NCAA champions, over 50 NCAA first team All-Americans, and three different athletes to top 10 world rankings. Denard was recently named to the NACAC Senior Championships Team Staff as the Assistant Coach – Throws. He holds a master’s degree in higher education and is currently working towards his second master’s degree in Transformative Coaching and Leadership. Denard holds USATF Level 2 certificates in Throws, Jumps and Sprints / Hurdles / Relays.
Monique Henderson, OLY (Huntington Beach, California/USATF Southern California) is a tenured Health and Kinesiology Professor at Golden West College (GWC) and holds a master’s degree in Kinesiology. Henderson is also the Head Coach for the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field programs at GWC. As an athlete, Henderson competed at three Olympic games, earned two gold medals as part of the 4X400m, and is the former collegiate and national high school record holder in the 400m. She holds USATF Level 2 certificates for both Endurance and Sprints.
Arthur “Iggy” Ignaczak (Stanford, California/USATF Pacific) coaches jumps, pole vault, and the combined events at Stanford University. In his first Outdoor season at Stanford in 2020 he coached Keyshawn King to the Olympic Trials and Allie Jones earned All-American honors. In 2013, he earned his master’s degree in education with a focus in leadership. Ignaczak holds USATF Level 3 certificates in Jumps and Combined Events and an World Athletics Level V certificate in Jumps.
Felisha Johnson, OLY (Anderson Indiana/USATF Indiana) is in her fifth season as an Assistant Track and Field Coach at Anderson University. She is a 2016 Olympian, 9-time All-American and 2-time NCAA champion in the women’s weight throw. Johnson is still competing in the women’s shot put as a USATF Tier 1 Athlete. She holds her USATF Level 2 certificate in Throws.
Brian McNeiece (Narragansett, Rhode Island/USATF New England) is the Head High School Girl’s Cross Country Coach and Boy’s Track and Field Hurdle Coach at North Kingston High School. In 2021, McNeiece was awarded RITCA Cross Country Coach of the Year and was the 2013 RRCA Ultra Marathon National Champion. McNeiece holds USATF Level 3 and World Athletics Level V certificates in Endurance and Sprints / Hurdles / Relays.
Martin Palavicini (Fresno, California/USATF Central California) has been coaching for over 42 years, currently as a middle and high school coach at Clovis West High School and as a private elite high school and open athlete coach. In addition, Palavicini has taken on the role as Head USATF Coach for numerous international competitions. Currently, he coaches heptathlete Jestena Mattson and decathlete Chris Helwick. He holds a master’s degree in Kinesiology and Ph.D. in Exercise and Sport Science. Palavicini holds his USATF Level 3 certificate in the Combined Events and is a World Athletics Level V Jumps and Combined Events Elite Coach. He is also a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
Billy Poole-Harris (Annandale-on-Hudson, New York/USATF New York) has 17 years of coaching experience and is currently the Men’s Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach at Bard College. While coaching at Indiana State University and Northern Illinois University he led numerous athletes to top 10 conference indoor and outdoor championship finishes. During his time as Head Coach for Whitney M. Young high school he oversaw the development of 29 individual state qualifiers and 14 relay time qualifiers. Poole-Harris holds USATF Level 3 and World Athletics Level V certificates in Endurance.
Hugh Reid (Brooklyn, New York/USATF New York) is currently the Head Cross Country and Track and Field coach at Lehman College where he has led the men’s and women’s teams to indoor and outdoor CUNYAC championship wins. This past year Reid was named CUNYAC Men’s Coach of the Year for both the indoor and outdoor season, an honor he has now received 20 times throughout his career. Reid also founded the Musketeers Track club where he’s overseen athletes compete at numerous prestigious competitions including the Junior Olympics and Olympics. He represented Barbados as a sprinter and was an eight-time Barbados National Champion. Reid is USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning Certified and holds USATF Level 3 and World Athletics Level V certificates in the Combined-Events, Jumps, and Sprints / Hurdles / Relays certificates.
Sterling Roberts (Ypsilanti, Michigan/USATF Michigan) is an Associate Head Track and Field Coach at Eastern Michigan University where he coaches hurdles and horizontal jumps. He coached Summer 2021 Olympians Donald Scott and Tori Franklin as well as Sallah-Mohammed who became a Dutch National Champion. Among his accomplishments, he was named the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2014 and 3-time Mid-American Conference Assistant Coach of the Year. He holds USATF Level 2 certificates in the Jumps, Throws, and Sprint / Hurdles / Relays.
Thomas Schwartz (Broomfield, Colorado/USATF Snake River) has coached for over 30 years and currently runs his own private coaching practice, Tinman Elite. He has coached multiple National Champions including Drew Hunter and Brogan Austin and three USATF club cross country champion teams. Schwartz holds both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Exercise Science. Schwartz is the co-author of the book “Build Your Running Body” and holds USATF Level 3 and World Athletics Level V certificates in Endurance and Youth.
Charlotte Sneed (Bethel Island, California/USATF Pacific) owns and coaches her own cross country and USATF track club, the Contra Costa Cheetahs, which serves youth, open, and master athletes. Previously, Sneed was the Head Coach at Heritage High School and sprint, relays, and jumps coach at Freedom High School. In 2019 she was selected to receive the Milton Hershey Award for her volunteer contributions to youth track. Sneed holds USATF Level 2 certificates in Jumps and Youth.
Cortney Stafford (Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania/USATF Mid Atlantic) has coached collegiately for seven years and is currently the Women’s Heads Coach at East Stroudsburg University. During the 2022 season she oversaw three first-team regional team qualifiers, the PSAC Women’s Indoor Rookie/Field Event Athlete of the Year, and four school records. Stafford competed as a jumper for Cal Poly and her Big West Conference triple jump record still stands today. She has her master’s degree in Sports Management and holds her USATF Level 3 and World Athletics Level V certificates in the Jumps and Combined Events. Stafford is also USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning certified.
Sol Stephens (Owensboro, Kentucky/USATF Kentucky) has 22 years of experience coaching and is the Head Women and Men’s Cross Country and Track and Field Coach at Kentucky Wesleyan College. During the 2021 season, his women’s team was ranked Academic All-American for the first time in the university’s history. While at Anderson University, Stephens coached four NCAA All-Americans, 19 HCAC conference champions, and 89 HCAC all-conference individuals. Stephens holds USATF Level 3 and World Athletics Level V certificates in the Jumps.
Claude Toukene, OLY (Suffolk, Virginia/USATF Virginia) works as the Head Men and Women’s Track and Field Coach at Bryant and Stratton College. Claude has coached 15 All-American’s and has received the Mid-Atlantic Coach Award three times. While coaching at Western Branch High School his track and field team won 27 state titles, 22 national titles, and seven national records. He competed for Cameroon in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic games and four IAAF World Championships. Currently, Toukene is finishing his Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance. He holds USATF Level 2 certificates in Jumps, Throws, and Sprint / Hurdles / Relays.
John Turek (Plano, Texas/USATF Southwestern) is the Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach at St. Mark’s School of Texas where he has coached for 28 years. Turek has served as the Women’s Head Coach for numerous international competitions including the Thorpe Cup and Pan American Cup. He holds a master’s degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Biomechanics and Motor Skills Acquisition. Turek holds USATF Level 3 and World Athletics Level V certificates in the Combined Events.