RUNNING COACHES CONNECTION
Gabe Sanders - Stanford University
​
Gabe Sanders is in his second year as Stanford's sprints and hurdles coach. Prior to Stanford, Gabe coached at Boston University and Williams College. Sanders was named 2012 USTFCCCA Northeast Region Indoor Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year and had 21 NCAA regional qualifiers and one NCAA Championships finalist before moving over to Stanford.
​
Rob Hewitt is in his first season as co-head coach for the Earlham College cross country and track & field programs with his wife Claire. Hewitt comes to Earlham from Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, Pa., where he has served as director of boys’ and girls’ cross country and track & field since 2014, as well as being a teacher and academic advisor. Prior to being promoted to director, Hewitt was head boys’ cross country and indoor track & field coach as well as assistant outdoor track & field coach from 2004-13.
Mike Newton - Newton Timing Services
​
Mike Newton started working track and cross country meets across Michigan right out of high school. The changing demands of Fully Automatic Timing (FAT) quickly threw him into the mix of being one of the premier timers in the state. Mike is always looking for a new way to improve the way meets run from all aspects; as a fan, an athlete, a coach, and for meet management. This has led to many innovative discoveries to streamline the results process. Mike can be contacted via email (mikester819@gmail.com) or phone (734-904-7870) regarding meet timing or hosting needs or questions.
Ron Warhurst - Former Head Coach, University of Michigan
​
Synonymous with Michigan cross country, Ron Warhurst spent 35+ seasons at the helm of the Wolverine men's cross country team. Warhurst is considered one of the finest running coaches in the nation and the most successful in University of Michigan history, winning seven Big Ten Championship titles (1974, '75, '76, '80 (tie), '93, '97 and '98) and producing 12 NCAA top-10 teams. Ron currently coaches several professional athletes and Olympian including 2016 1500m bronze medalist Nick Willis. He also serves as a running specialist for ATI Rehabilitation Services.
Rondell Ruff - S.T.E.P. Track Club
​
Rondell Ruff enters his third season as the head coach for the men's and women's cross country teams as well as the women's track & field programs after being hired in August of 2015. Before WSU, Ruff served as the assistant track and field coach at Army for the last four seasons (2011-15). Ruff primarily worked with sprints, middle-distance groups and the relay teams. Prior to his arrival at West Point, N.Y., Ruff spent two years (2009-11) as a graduate assistant at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pa. He coached the jumps, sprints and relays for the Red Flash. A former walk-on, Ruff won two Big Ten Indoor DMR titles before clinching the Indoor National Championship title in 2005. He received All-America accolades in the DMR under coach Ron Warhurst as the quartet became the third relay team to join the list of NCAA Champions in Michigan's history.
Nancy Smith – Northville High School
​
Nancy has been the Girls Head cross country coach at Northville HS for the past 16 years. Coach Smith has had 6 Top 10 finishes at the State Finals since 2010 as well as 9 team state meet appearances. Her long list of achievements also include 11 All-State athletes, Division 1 State Champions (2013), 4 Regional Championships, 6 Conference Champions, 11 undefeated dual meet seasons, MITCA Division 1 Coach of the Year (2013), MITCA Coach of Year Nominee 3 times, Michigan High School Coaches Association Female Cross Country Coach of the Year (2014), and was a finalist for National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Coach of the Year for Cross Country (2014).
Brandon Jiles - Oak Park High School, MI
Rohan Grant - CFS Farm School & Maveric Track Club, PA
Rick Bauer – Saugatuck HS, MI
​
Rick has been the Boy’s Head Track & Field coach for the past 9 years and the Boys Head Cross Country coach for the past 7. He has led his teams to 3 State Championships and a State Runner-up finish in Track and Field as well as 2 State Championships and a State Runner-up finish in Cross Country. He has also led his teams to 4 Regional Championships in Cross Country and 4 in Track and Field. Rick has been a 5-time MITCA Div. 4 boys’ Coach of the year, and a 7-time Nominee. He was also a nominee and finalist for National Coach of the Year for 2015. He is the National Federation of State High School Association and National High School Athletics Coaches’ Association Boys’ Track Coach of the Year for Michigan, and U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Boy’s Track & Field Coach of the Year
Amy McNeil - Waterford Mott HS, MI
Jamal Johnson - Southern Indiana University​
At just 25 years of age, Coach Jamal Johnson enters his 3rd season as Head Coach at Wayne Memorial HS in and Wayne, MI and Head Coach/Owner of Intensity Track Club. In his short time at the helm, his athletes have combined to set 31 School Records (17 girls, 14 boys) and multiple All-Region and All-State performances. The Intensity Track Club has made a name for themselves on the National level with multiple Indoor and Outdoor All-American performances over the last 3 years.
Boo Shexnayder - Shexnayder Athletic Consulting
​
Irving “Boo” Schexnayder is regarded internationally as one of the leading authorities in training design. He, as co-founder of SAC, brings 36 years of experience in the coaching and consulting fields to the organization. The Vacherie, La., native was class valedictorian at St. James High in 1979, and earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Nicholls State University. He graduated cum laude with a B.S. in physical education in 1983 and later added a master’s degree in administration and supervision in 1988, again earning cum laude honors.
Bryan Hoddle - "The Soldiers Coach"
​
Coach Bryan Hoddle has worked extensively with injured soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Hospital in Washington, DC as well as Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Alabama, helping amputees, traumatic brain injuries, blind and wheelchair soldiers. Bryan is a nationally respected motivational speaker, having spoken to over 350 schools, organizations, and businesses over the past 25 years. He talks to business leaders, civic leaders, athletes, parents and school children about the five characteristics of a champion and how to apply those in ones life; Vision, Focus, Persistence, Discipline and Commitment. He's currently on the Board of Trustees for the Invictus Foundation, and continues to work with athletes and injured soldiers.
​
​
Dave Emeott - East Kentwood HS
​
Since taking over the reigns of the East Kentwood Boys Track & Field program 13 years ago, Dave Emeott's team has been the golden standard in the state of Michigan. Winners of five Division 1 State Championships and only once did they finish outside the Top-3 in the last decade.during this time he also started up a sports equipment distribution company, KP Athletics, as well as Kentwood Track Club, a community based running club for not only his student-athletes, but also for his community.
Mario Gomez - Chapin HS, El Paso, TX
​
Mario Gomez is the Head Coach of the Girls Track & Field program at Chapin High School in El Paso, Texas. A native of El Paso and a graduated of New Mexico State University, this is his 14th year of teaching and coaching. His passion for education is unquestioned. When he is not in his classroom or on the track, he is a contributor to FreelapUSA (article links) and SimpliFaster (article links). Outside the sport and school, his favorite way to spend his time is to be with his 6-year-old son.
Mike Dennisuk - Brownstown-Woodhaven HS
Rachael Steil - Grandville HS/Running In Silence
Rachael Steil is the author of Running in Silence, writes articles about running and eating disorders for RunnerClick.com, and is a speaker and advocate. Steil is a recipient of the Spirit and Outstanding Runner award for the Aquinas College cross country team and has received sixth place All-American accolades in cross country as well as seventh place in the NAIA track nationals. Steil spends her free time writing, dancing, playing tag with her boyfriend on the lawn, and reading memoirs on her comfy couch. Her greatest achievement was not breaking a physical barrier, but a mental one
Adam Trausch - Lyon College, Batesville AR
​
Adam Trausch just began his first year as Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach in March of 2017 to restart the both programs at Lyon College (AR). A native of Grand Rapids, Adam attended Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills before going to Davenport University where he competed in Cross Country and Track & Field at both schools. After serving as an assistant cross country/track coach for nearly six seasons with stops at Defiance College (2016-2017), UW-Oshkosh (2014-2016) and Wisconsin Lutheran College (2011-2013), Trausch took over at Lyon College in April of 2017.
Tim Simpson - Lansing Catholic
​
Coach Simpson enters his 19th year with the cross country program at Lansing Catholic. He was an outstanding runner in high school and continued to excel during his college career at Michigan State where he still holds the 1500m record (3:41). He is also the boys and girls track coach at Lansing Catholic.