Eagles Track and Field hires new Head Coach,
Retains Throws Coach and brings in Pole Vaulting and Jumps Specialist.
For the upcoming 2008 Track and Field season, the Eagles have hired new Head Coach Shannon Maas who brings a wealth of knowledge and personal experience competing under UC Berkeley and 1996 United States Olympic Head Coach Erv Hunt. Maas is an alumnus of College of the Siskiyous where he set the COS 400 Meter Intermediate Hurdle record (52.99 set in 1997) and placed 5th at the California Community College Championships in Fresno California in 1997. After competing and excelling at Siskiyous, Maas went on with a scholarship to train and participate with the Cal Golden Bears Track and Field team. During his tenure at Berkeley, Shannon was a two year varsity letterman in track, finishing 6th in the Pacific 10 Conference Championships in 1998 in the 400 Meter Intermediate Hurdles. Maas will apply his expertise and knowledge to sprints and hurdles for the Eagles this year. When asked about the upcoming 2008 season, Maas says "I'm extremely excited and eager to begin. It will be a difficult season both practice wise and competition wise, but I am confident with hard work, effort, focus, and discipline our team will be able to compete with the best out there."
Joining Maas this season will be Les Courtemanche who will be responsible for the throws for the Eagles. Les has years of experience both competing and coaching the Javelin, Discus and Shot Put. Mr. Courtemanche (with a small amount of help from Coach Maas) will also be implementing a new weight training, plyometric and complex exercise regiment to the team which they believe will help turn a corner in the development of their athletes. Volunteering her time to coach the high jump, long jump and triple, which is greatly appreciated by the Eagle's coaching staff, will be 2007 3rd Place California Community College State Finalist Shannamar Dewey. Dewey, who is also an assistant Basketball Coach for the Lady Eagles, brings a positive energy and focus to the team which Coach Maas says "Is more valuable than words can express in terms of the help, energy, and guidance she will provide." The Eagles are also seeking the help of Pole Vaulting guru Steve Pile from Yreka High School. Steve has years of Vaulting coaching with a more than proven record for his development and refining of state qualifying and placing high school Pole Vaulters.
"If things fall into place the way I hope, I know we will be a contender for the Conference Championships. It all depends on how hard my athletes want to work, what they are willing to lay on the table to win, and whether or not we will have the numbers to compete with our larger foes" says Head Coach Shannon Maas. Good luck Eagle Track and Field, go out there, work hard and bring that championship home!
