"I want to thank you again for having an amazing camp. I've learned so much over the last two years. I really love the personal interaction between coaches and athletes" - Devin (SoCal)
"It was one of the funnest weeks of my life. I loved everything about this camp. The people were so nice, the activities were so much fun, and I've never learned so much technique" - Adam (Boston, MA)
"I just wanted to say thanks for such a great camp experience, I pretty much have all the answers to the questions I've always wanted to know" - Colin (NorCal)
2012 CLINIC COACHES
Pete Dolan ~ Cross Country & Middle Distance Head Camp CoachFor over 20 years, Pete has prided himself on taking "average" middle and long distance athletes to national class levels in their running careers. Ontop of recent Big West Cross Country Championships, his national class X-Country squads at UCSB earned him the prestigious honor of being named 2006 West Region Cross Country Coach of the Year. Throughout his career he has worked numerous high school summer camps helping athletes' dreams become reality.
(More on Coach Dolan ~ More on the Distance Camp)
Josh Priester ~ Sprints & Hurdles / Jumps Head Camp Coach
Coach Priester joined the UCSB team in '08 after a successful coaching career for George Fox University where he trained their sprinters, hurdlers and multi-event athletes. In addition he served as the Director of Strength and Conditioning for George Fox athletics. Coach Priester has also been a clinician and lecturer at numerous T&F clinics.
(More on Coach Priester ~ More on the Sprints, Hurdles & Jumps Camp)
Cody Fleming ~ Throws & High Jump Head Camp Coach
Coach Fleming joined the UC-Santa Barbara staff in 2011 having spent the previous three years at the University of Nevada where he helped field some of the most competitive field event squads in the Western Athletic Conference. At UNR he coached 13 NCAA Regional qualifiers, 14 WAC medalists, 1 WAC Champion, 3 NCAA Championship qualifiers and one NCAA All-American. Prior to Nevada he coached at Lane Community College. As an athlete he competed at the University of Oregon for two seasons and was a member of the Duck's 2005 Pac-10 Championship team –finishing fourth in the decathlon.
(More on Coach Fleming ~ More on the Throws & High Jump Camp)
Ryan Rupcich ~ Pole Vault Head Camp Coach
Coach Rupcich finished his second season with DePaul bringing his experience in the pole vault and high jump, both as a student-athlete and as a coach. As a student-athlete, he cleared a height of 4.93m in the pole vault while competing at Cal State-Fresno. Prior to his collegiate career, Rupcich served four years active duty in the United States Marine Corp. He remained on inactive duty in the reserves during his time at Cal State-Fresno and was honorably discharged in 2008.
(More on Coach Rupcich ~ More on the Pole Vault Jump Camp)
Assistant Camp Coaches & Staff
David Monico ~ Camp Director - Coach Monico returned to the West Coast in March of 2009 beginning a new journey with a company that motivates and rewards physical activity - Plus 3 Network. Previously, he worked in New York City for an international non-profit, but has always made time to manage the camp and serve as an assistant coach for the Distance group. He came to UCSB as an average high school runner out of Piedmont Hills HS in San Jose, CA and went on to earn All Big West honors for the Gauchos at 5,000m in 2004. From 2005 to 2006 he was an assistant coach and in charge of media relations.DJ Ozan ~ Fun Director - A jack of all trades, Ozan was a prep star at 800m and 1600m out of Del Mar HS in Northern California and then at UCSB where he graduated in 2004. Deciding that running was not enough, Ozan pursued a Master's in classical opera at the infamous Manhattan School of Music in New York City while also pursuing his own soul and R&B career. Returning to California in '07, Ozan became a Men's & Women's X-Country and T&F coach at SW Los Angeles CC, while continuing to give private voice lessons and performing in his free time.
Bethany Nickless ~ Asst. Camp Director - Nickless was a two-time NCAA National qualifier in the 3000 meter steeplechase. In 2007 she was runner-up at the NCAA West Regionals with a time of 10:11.01, which met the Olympic Trials B-Standard. She was a two-time Big West Champion in the steeplechase, qualifying for the NCAA Regionals four times. In cross country, Nickless was the top finisher on UCSB's 2007 squad that placed 19th at the NCAA Championships and was named Big West Athlete of the Year in cross country. She was also a key member of the UCSB squad that took ninth nationally in 2006. Nickless graduated from UCSB in 2008 with a B.A. in mathematics and a minor in excersise & health science.
Past Camp Coaches & Staff
Jeff Jacobs - Assistant Cross Country & Middle Distance Camp Coach
Coach Jacobs returns to the camp after completing his 6th year at Coastal Carolina University. He has helped lead the Chanticleers to numerous school records, conference accolades, and NCAA regional and national qualifying berths (including the programs first All-American). Jacobs began coaching in 1991 and was an assistant coach at UCSB in 1999. From 1999 until his departure in 2004, he assisted the re-writing of the distance record book and the progression to a national class squad in both the men's and women's programs.
Keith Baker ~ Throws & High Jump Head Camp Coach
Coach Baker, Assistant Coach at Samford University, leads their Throws squad after spending three years at UC Santa Barbara working with the men's and women's throwers, high jumpers and pole vaulters. All in all Baker coached school records in the men's pole vault, women's high jump, women's shot put, women's discus and men's shot put along with 13 regional qualifiers and a NCAA All-American.. As a collegiate athlete for the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2003 - 2006, Baker became the school record-holder in the indoor heptathlon with a personal best of 5332. A national qualifier, Baker still sits third on the University of Alabama outoor list in the decathlon with a best of 7315. He was a two-time medalist in the SEC.
Gabriel LeMay - Assistant Sprints & Hurdles ~ Jumps Camp Coach
Coach LeMay joined the SB Camp staff in 2009 from the University of Oregon where he is an Assistant Coach for the 2009 Pac-10 and NCAA Regional Champion Ducks. Coach LeMay works with their high jumpers, heptathletes and decathletes including the '09 NCAA Indoor Heptathlon Champion. Previously he was a graduate assistant at Western Illinois and coach at Kent St. University where he was responsible for school record holders, Conference Champions, NCAA regional and national championship qualifiers, a Regional Champion and a NCAA All-American.
Felipe Montoro - Assistant Cross Country & Middle Distance Camp Coach
Coach Montoro joined the SB Camp staff in 2009 from Santa Clara University where he has just completed his 6th year with the Men's & Women's XC and T&F teams. Prior to Santa Clara, Montoro earned his master's degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotion from Cal St. Fullerton where he assisted the Titan's program for two seasons. A UCSB alumni, he completed his first coaching stint with Coach Dolan in 2001 after competing for the Gauchos.
John Clemons—A former nationally ranked steeplechaser and distinguished US Navy pilot, Coach Clemons has turned his energy toward collegiate coaching at Columbia University. Clemons was a four-time National Championship qualifier in the steeple and also represented the US military at the World Military Championships. Before moving to New York, Coach Clemons created SOCAL United, where he had athletes qualify for both the 2008 US Olympic marathon trials and the USATF National championships.
Kylie McCuen—One of the Gauchos most successful sprinters. McCuen won back to back 200m and 400m titles in '05 and '06 at the Big West Championships. She holds personal bests of 23.79 at 200m and 54.11 in the 400m dash. McCuen came to the Gauchos from Brea Olinda H.S. and is currently pursuing her Master's in Teaching.
Tetlo Emmen—A former Gaucho, Emmen is pursuing a professional middle distance career and continues to train in Santa Barbara. In '08 he was ranked 9th in the US with a best of 1:46.04. At UCSB he won the '04 NCAA West Regional Championship and earned All-American honors at 800m. As a high school senior for West Torrance High in Southern California he ran 1:52.84 finishing 6th at the CA State Meet in 2001.
COUNSELORS
Each year many of the UCSB student-athletes assist the coaches providing a greater level of individualized training and also insights into the life of a NCAA Div. I student-athlete. They work with the campers on the track and hang out off the track throughout the day.
PAST SPEAKERS
Mike Miller—An NAIA All-American at Linfield College, Miller went on to be a successful two-time Olympic trial qualifier, five-time USATF qualifier, and one of 255 Americans to run a sub 4:00 mile. Personal records also include 400 meter – 46.70, 800meter – 1:46.98, 1500 meter – 3:38.10, 1 mile – 3:57.13 and 5000 meter– 13:58.22.Bill Tokar—Ventura HS Distance Coach, Bill has coached a number of national class athletes including California 1600m State Champion and future NCAA All-American, Josh Spiker. He regularly attends workshops and clinics as a 'physiology guru.'
Ken Reeves—As Nordhoff's Boy's and Girl's coach, Reeves is California's all-time winningst State Meet Championship coach. In 1999 he was named the United States Coach of the Year after breaking the title record with eleven State Meet Championship wins for Nordhoff.
Tim O'Rourke—High School Division Director of the prestigious Mt. Sac Invitational Cross Country & Relays Meets.
Joe Rubio—Founder and owner of RunningWarehouse.com, Rubio is also an accomplished coach and athlete. As a coach he has been the Asics Aggies Olympic Devlopment and team coach since 1999. As an athlete Rubio was an Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon with a personal best of 2:18.06.