JR McFarland
Coach McFarland is the Head Boys and Girls Coach at Wilmington Area High School. He is in his 39th year coaching track and field - all of which have been at Wilmington Area. His teams have won 17 league titles along with 7 district titles. In 2008, the boys team won the PIAA State AA title. Individually, he has had 12 state champions as well as over 100 state medalists. His strength over the years has been coaching the shot, discus, and javelin. Coach McFarland will be co-teaching the javelin along with Slippery Rock University's standout Sam Taylor.
Tom Meling
Tom Meling has coached track and field at Slippery Rock High School for over twenty years. He has coached in many areas but his main focus has always been in the hurdles. Coach Meling has a level 1 USATF certification and has spent four 2-day clinics with Brent McFarlane, former Canadian Olympic coach and leading authority on the hurdles. He ran track at Ottawa Township High School in Ottawa, Illinois and one year at Western Illinois University . He has qualified numerous hurdlers to the state meet with a number of them becoming medalists. Coach Meling will be presenting hurdling in terms of a process progressing toward excellence.
Rob Wahl
Rob Wahl has been a pole vault coach for the past twenty-nine years and has been the Pennsylvania State Chairperson for USA Track & Field’s National Pole Vault Development Committee and on the National Staff at the Reno Summit Pole Vault Summit since 1997. Coach Wahl currently is the pole vault coach for Altoona (PA) High School. He will be addressing the biomechanical aspects of the vault as developed by Mark Hannay, the former long-time college and high school coach of the pole vault who retired from coaching several years ago. With a correct set of vault-specific drills and the proper understanding of what occurs in the pole vault, a coach can help their student-athletes to vault competitively and safely.
Al Dines
Al Dines is the high jump coach at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pa. Prior to his coaching at Point Park, Dines had a highly successful teaching/coaching career at Montour High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. This will be the 14th year that Dines has coached the high jumpers at SRU’s Jumpers Weekend. Dines coached numerous high school All-State high jump performers in his years at Montour. Dines is a passionate teacher who is extremely effective with beginning as well as advanced high jumpers.(from http://srucamps.com/track/staff.html)
Bob Morris
Coach Morris has 41 years coaching various sports: Cross Country, Track & Field, Boy's & Girl's Basketball, Football, Baseball & Softball and proudly served for 30 years as Head Girl’s Track and Field Coach and 24 years as Head Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country Coach at West Middlesex High School. Over 50 athletes from West Middlesex have gone on to Run, Jump, or Throw at the college level. Accomplishments in clued 34 League Championships, 6 District 10 titles, 1 PIAA Team Championship, 2 PIAA Team Runners-Up, and 19 teams qualified for the State meet.
EVENT: PHILOSOPHY OF CROSS COUNTRY
Will have discussion on the total program - winter, spring, summer, fall season. How the sport has many ways to be presented to
our athletes. We always felt that "coaching is an extension of the classroom" and tried to teach each runner. We will also discuss muscle fibers, workout philosophy, drills, "little things," making each day different at practice, and how to put some fun into practice.
EVENT: PHILOSOPHY OF TRACK & FIELD - DISTANCE RUNNING - Perhaps the one thing we really tried to do with both sports was to stress the "Four D's": Discipline, Dedication, Desire and Determination. Vince Lombardi once said "Fatigue makes cowards of all of us!" Athletes and coaches must understand this as they approach each workout. We will discuss the total program Summer, Fall, Winter Season, and Spring Season. Topics will include practice, drills, "little things, and going on to the next race.
Tim McNeil
Tim McNeil enters his eighth year as the head coach for the men’s and women’s cross country and track and field programs at Westminster College for the 2014-15 season.
McNeil immediately put his thumbprint on the programs as the Titan women’s track and field team won the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) championship in each of his first three years after winning its first-ever PAC title in McNeil’s first year in 2008. The men’s track and field team, which finished last in the PAC in McNeil’s first year, won its first-ever PAC title in 2011. In 2012, for the first time in school history, the Titan men's and women's track and field teams won the PAC championship in the same year.
McNeil was named PAC Women’s Track & Field Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2010 and PAC Men’s Track & Field Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012.
Overall during McNeil’s tenure, Westminster track and field athletes have claimed 44 PAC event titles (32 women’s, 12 men’s). (from www.westminster.edu)
Mark Hannay
Coach Hannay has coached track for 41 years (St. Edwards High School, Mercer High School, and Slippery Rock University). As a High School coach (12 yrs.) he compiled a record of 146-6-1, at Mercer; 5 undefeated seasons, 7 league championships, 3 consecutive District 10 titles, 20 invitational wins, 48 State Meet medals, & Tri-County Coach of The Year (record 7 consecutive years). At SRU, Hannay coached Pole Vault, Javelin, and High Jump for 19 yrs. (23 NCAA All Americans (mostly “walk-ons”), 2 National Champions, 1 US Olympic Trials competitor (2nd longest female thrower in Division II history). In 2000 the “All Time Men’s Top 12 Division II Javelin List” had 3 of Hannay’s throwers listed “All Time #4, #8, #12”. Furthermore, at “The Rock”, he produced the largest pole vault (non-traveling) camps in US (over 6000 vaulters (1989-2007)). In 1988 (to present), he was appointed to TAC’s 8 member National & Olympic Pole Vault Development Committee. Hannay remains a National Staff Member. In 2001, he received the National Pole Vault Coach of The Year in Media award. Finally, using the same scientific methods that he will be presenting in this clinic, Coach Hannay developed Fawn Miller (Soph., Jr., & Sr. years 2007-10). In her first year with coach Hannay, she improved nearly 40’ and broke the High School Sophomore National Record (167’5”: 2ed longest throw in American HS history w/new rules javelin).
2017 SPEAKERS
2016 SPEAKERS
Tom Wise
A personal speed and strength trainer with 18 years of coaching experience, Tom has coached to PIAA Track and Field state championship teams and has coached over 30 PIAA state medalists including two individual and two relay state titles. He was also a three time All-American in the decatholon and is a former state champion and the current PIAA record holder in the 300 hurdles. Coach Wise will discuss mindset, drills and coordination, speed training, strength training and conditioning, and race "choreography."
Dr. Pete Vilasi
Dr. Vilasi holds a Bachelors degree in sports medicine - athletic training from Ithaca College, a Masters degree in physical therapy from Slippery Rock Uniersity, and a
Doctor of physical therapy from Slippery Rock University (2006). He also holds a USATF level 2 certificate in endurance runner training (Loyola University 2006) and has an extensive educational background in the management of the running athlete including biomechanical analysis / education and instruction, footwear, nutrition / hydration, exercise physiology and establishing year round periodized training plans for the 800m, 15/1600m, 3k, 5k, 8k, 10k, marathon and ultra distances. Dr. Vilasi currently coaches cross country at Sharpsville and operates Team Excel Runner in Mercer County.
Distance / Mid Distance
Bob Morris
Nathan Shadeck began his sixth season as an assistant coach working with the sprints, hurdles and relays at Slippery Rock University in 2016-17. Shadeck, a former all-PSAC hurdler (400m hurdles) and Conference champion in the 4x100m relay for Slippery Rock, now brings his experience and expertise to his athletes. Since transitioning from athlete to coach, Shadeck has led his athletes to numerous All -Conference performances, 8 school records, 3 National qualifiers, and 2 DII NCAA All-Americans.
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Sprints / Hurdles
Nathan Shadeck
William Viccari
Bill has coached high school track and field for 26 years at Wilmington Area, Quaker Valley, Ellwood City, and Hickory.He has been an assistant coach of teams that have won 13 district titles (WPIAL and District 10) and two PIAA AA State Championships.Bill has had at least one hurdler qualify for the PIAA Track and Field Championships in 24 of 26 years coaching the event, including at least one hurdler at the state track meet for the past 16 straight years, and at least one medal at the PIAA meet in 15 of the past 16 years.Included in the state medalists are 3 PIAA champions, 3 PIAA silver medalists, and 3 PIAA bronze medalists.Seven of Bill’s hurdlers have run sub 15.Bill also assists with the sprints and hurdles at Hickory High School and is the coach of the defending State Champion in the girls’ AA 300 hurdles, Heather Grober.
Coach Rhoades has 24 years of vaulting experience and has served as Westminster College Pole Vault Coach for 10 years. He has coached 10 NCAA Division III All Americans , 22 Presidents’ Athletic Conference champions , and 20 Division III national qualifiers. His athletes have won 62 Presidents’ Athletic Conference medals. Coach Rhoades also served as the Pole Vault coach at Wilmington Area High where his athletes earned to PIAA medals.
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Vaults and Jumps
Bradi Rhoades
Carl Hinderliter
Head Coach - Reynolds High School 1991-2006; Assistant Coach 1980-1990; 2010-Present.
Assistant Coach - Thiel College 2006-2009; 2013-2016 = 37 years. Double duty the last 3 years!
Coached 8 PIAA state champs as head coach at Reynolds, 6 alone in high jump plus 2 state runner ups. Have had 28 state HJ qualifiers and 12 District 10 HJ champs while at Reynolds. Had the opportunity to coach an additional 3 PIAA state HJ champs, 8 District 10 champs and 11 state qualifiers from other high schools in Mercer and Crawford Counties. Reynolds holds the Pennsylvania record of 6 female state champs and the District 10 AA Girls’ record of 5’ 9” set by Kristy Dickson (1995). Dickson is currently the only 4-time state champion in D-10 regardless of sport or gender. Both Dickson (1997) and Brittany Maun (2006) attempted to set the PIAA AA HJ record at 5’ 10 ¼”.
At Thiel, I’ve had 4 NCAA D-3 All Americans in the high jump including the 2008 NCAA National Indoor Champion (6’11”) and Outdoor Runner Up (6’11 ½”). Have had 5 high jumpers in the top 10 at the NCAA meet. Have had 8 PAC HJ champs and TC holds the 2014 PAC Indoor record (6’9”) as well as the 2015 PAC Outdoor record (6’11”).
In all, I’ve been lucky enough to have coached 13 males who jumped 6’5” or higher (2 who cleared 6’11” or more), plus 9 females who jumped 5’5” or higher.
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Throws
JR McFarland
Michael Hambrick
Coach McFarland is the Head Boys and Girls Coach at Wilmington Area High School. He is in his 40th year coaching track and field - all of which have been at Wilmington Area. His teams have won 18 league titles along with 7 district titles. In 2008, the boys team won the PIAA State AA title. Individually, he has had 12 state champions as well as over 100 state medalists. His strength over the years has been coaching the shot, discus, and javelin. Coach McFarland will be co-teaching the javelin.
Athletic Career
-1977 WPIAL Discus 4th, PIAA State AAA Discus runner up
-1978, 1981, 1984 PSAC State Discus Champion
-1979, 1981, 1984 NCAA National Discus Qualifier (8th in 1981, 10th in 1984)
-IAAF 1999 World Discus Runner Up
- IAAF 1999 World Weight Pentathlon 3rd Place
-2002 USATF National Weight Pentathlon 2nd place
-2006 Inducted into the Lawrence County Sports Hall of Fame
-2010 inducted into the Slippery Rock University Athletic Hall of Fame
Coaching
-1986-1988 George Junior Republic Throws Coach (started program)
-1990 – 1993, 2000 SRU Throws Coach (2 All-Americans)
-1994 New Castle High School Throws Coach (WPIAL Javelin Champ)
-1995 – 2011, 2016-present North Allegheny Throws Coach
- Initial SRU Throwers Camp Head SP/Disc Clinician
- Clinician at Ironwood Throwers Development Camp
- Co-Founder of Big Throws Clinics with Jayne Beatty
- Founder & President of Long & Strong West Elite Throwers Club
- Frequent Contributor to LSW Throwers Journal
-Current coach of Jordan Geist: #2 ranked shot putter in the USA as a 10th grader. Penn Relays Shot Put Champion, Baldwin Invitational Champion Shot/Discus (meet record 69’1” shot). 2015 WPIAL Champion in shot/discus. 2015 PIAA State Champion in Shot/Discus, 2017 PA State Indoor Record (73’10”), and 2016 National/World Record in the High School Shot Put.
Coach Morris has 41 years coaching various sports: Cross Country, Track & Field, Boy's & Girl's Basketball, Football, Baseball & Softball and proudly served for 30 years as Head Girl’s Track and Field Coach and 24 years as Head Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country Coach at West Middlesex High School. Over 50 athletes from West Middlesex have gone on to Run, Jump, or Throw at the college level. Accomplishments in clued 34 League Championships, 6 District 10 titles, 1 PIAA Team Championship, 2 PIAA Team Runners-Up, and 19 teams qualified for the State meet.
Terrece Draper
Terrace Draper is in his 3rd year as long jump/triple jump coach at Slippery Rock University. Draper as a coach has led the Slippery Rock jumpers to numerous PSAC All-Conference performances. Draper was an All-Conference performer and triple jump school record holder during his competitive days at Slippery Rock University. Draper is a technician and a teacher that breaks down each phase of the jump, starting from the approach all the way through the landing.
Brian Cooper
Brian Cooper is a product of Wilmington Area High School where he competed mainly in the Shot Put. In high school, Brian won the W.P.I.A.L. and finished 2nd in the state. Now, Coach Cooper has been a throwing coach for boys and girls for 22 years at Shenango Area High School, PA. During his tenure, he has had a great deal of success with his athletes in both the Shot Put and the Discus. During this time, Shenango has had 14 W.P.I.A.L. Champions (8 – Shot & 6 – Discus), 38 State Qualifiers, and the current W.P.I.A.L. record holder in the Discus. Coach Cooper will discuss the mental part of the throws, the power position in both throws, the glide in the Shot Put, and the spin in the Discus. He will also go through his daily drills that he uses with his athletes to maximize their throws and improve their technique.
Sam Taylor
Sam Taylor has been throwing javelin for 8 years and has worked the SRU throwing camps for 2 years She is currently still competing for SRU. She is Gateway High School's school record holder, a two time All-American, a three time Academic All-American, and the 2014 PSAC Champion. She will focus on the angles and positioning of the body when throwing the javelin.
Her philosophy is something her high school coach always told her. "If you can do it once, you'll do it again and again.” Coach David Carr.