Coaches
Mark “Mac” Macdonald
Coach Mac brings nearly three decades of collegiate coaching experience to the Academy. Following his All-American career at Washington State as an athlete, Mac joined the Cougar coaching staff and mentored athletes in the hurdles, sprints, and relays. Mac’s hurdlers and sprinters won numerous conference championships, All-American honors, school records, and three National Championships in the hurdles, earning him a reputation as one of the most successful assistant coaches in the country. Following his time at Washington State, he mentored his former athlete, 3 x NCAA Champion Jeshua Anderson (47.93), as Anderson transitioned into a coaching role at the University of Washington. Mac’s stint at Washington included an All-American finish for 400 hurdler Darhian Mills (57.02).
Mike Strong
Coach Strong began his coaching career mentoring youth athletes in the Seattle area before moving on to the collegiate ranks, where he had successful stops at UNLV, Cal-Berkeley, Iowa, New Mexico, and Cal State Los Angeles. After coaching collegiately, Coach Strong settled down in western Washington and began building Yelm High School into one of the most formidable programs in the state. Coach Strong built a reputation for mentoring successful multi-event athletes in the decathlon and heptathlon, and his athletes won numerous state titles in the jumps and hurdles. After retiring from Yelm, Coach Strong took his talents to Capital High School, where he mentors the hurdlers and javelin throwers primarily. Some of Coach Strong’s most notable pupils include Kay Garnett (#2 all-time 100 hurdles), Jake Hanson (6 x state champion/#4 all-time 300 hurdles - 36.64), and Ryan Chase (#3 all-time decathlon - 6,821). Coach Strong currently mentors World U20 Pole Vault Champion Hana Moll and National High School Record Holder/U15 World Record Holder Amanda Moll, in addition to U20 Qualifier and National Freshman Record Holder (Heptathlon & High Jump) JaiCieonna Gero-Holt. The Washington State Coaches Association honored Coach Strong in 2019 with his induction into the Hall of Fame.
Bob Frey
Bob Frey is a USATF Level 2 certified coach in the Sprints/Hurdles/Relays and the Multi-Events (Decathlon/Heptathlon), in addition to being a Level 2 USTFCCCA Jumps Specialist. Coach Frey has mentored numerous state champions in the hurdles, jumps, and multis, including the state record holder in the 300 hurdles (41.76). In addition to the Academy, Frey has also been the Head Coach at Emerald Ridge High School for nearly a decade. Prior to coaching, Frey was a member of the track team at Washington State University, specializing in the hurdles.
SArah hannula
Part of our sister-club, Alpha Speed Academy, we are proud to include Coach Sarah Hannula. Following her stellar prep career at Curtis High School as a sprinter/jumper, Coach Sarah earned a scholarship to Washington State, where she specialized in the horizontal jumps and earned a degree in Exercise Science. Following her collegiate career, Sarah took over the helm at her alma mater and began building a championship culture for the Vikings; after being a part of two 4A State Championship teams as an athlete, Coach Sarah has led the Vikings to two additional 4A State Championships as a coach. Coach Sarah is best known for her work in the horizontal jumps, where Curtis athletes hold four of the top ten marks in state history in the triple jump, including the state record (Lexi Ellis, 43’6”), and three of those marks came as the Vikings swept the top-3 spots at state in the event. We are proud to partner with this strong and successful leader.
Nate wilford
Part of our sister-club, Alpha Speed Academy, we are proud to include Coach Nate Wilford. Coach Nate’s reputation for mentoring some of the finest jumpers in state and national history is unmatched. One can search age-group, high school, collegiate, and even Olympic rosters to see the impact that Coach Nate has had on the sport of track and field. His athletes have won state, national, conference, and collegiate championships in both the long and triple jump. His pupils include 4 of the top-5 all-time marks in state history in the triple jump: Lexi Ellis (43’6” - Oregon), Chinne Okoronkwo (42’11.75” - Texas Tech), Andrea Geubelle (42’10.25 - Kansas; NCAA Champion - Long Jump & Triple Jump; Olympian), and Rieko Wilford (41’0.5” - Purdue). There is no doubt that Coach Nate is one the finest horizontal jumps coaches in the country, a hidden gem here in the Pacific Northwest. The long-time coach at the Flying AJ’s Track Club, Nate is a founding member of the Alpha Speed Academy.