DAVE WOOD Head Coach

Dave Wood begins his 18th season as the Head Track & Field Coach. Wood's tenure has been nothing short of phenomenal. He has directed the men's and women's programs from the basement in the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) to the head of the pack. The Saints' have won twenty WHAC indoor and outdoor team titles since 1998. Success under Wood's direction hasn't been limited to the conference level. Competing at the NAIA National Championships both indoors and outdoors, Saints' athletes earned All-American honors 75 times including four NAIA National Champions and four runners-up finishes during Wood's tenure. Those accomplishments have earned Wood seven NAIA Regional Coach of the Year awards. The Saints' success under Wood's direction comes as no surprise. The 1972 Michigan Class A mile champion and a middle distance standout at Central Michigan University, Wood has been developing team and individual champions at the high school, junior college and collegiate level since his first coaching assignment at Grand Rapids Union High School, his alma mater, in 1976. A USATF Level II certified coach in the sprints and hurdles, Wood came to Aquinas after an outstanding twelve-year stint as Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach at Ferris State University. Wood was honored with a total of 10 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) "Coach of the Year" awards while guiding the Bulldogs to 11 GLIAC Championships in cross country and track & field. In addition to having his teams consistently ranked in the NCAA II top 20, Wood was recognized four times as NCAA II Great Lakes Region "Coach of the Year". His success at the national level was highlighted by 35 All-Americans, three National Champions and a seventh place finish at the NCAA II Outdoor Track & Field Championships during his tenure as Ferris State's coach.

NEIL REILLY Assistant Coach

Neil Reilly begins his 13th year on the Saints' coaching staff. A 1988 Aquinas College graduate, this is Reilly's second stint with the Saints as he was as an assistant coach from 1989-90 following his graduation from Aquinas.

JIM BAKER Assistant Coach

Starting his ninth year on the Saints' coaching staff, Jim Baker brings a wealth of experience and abilities as both a coach and athlete. A graduate of Central Michigan University, Baker earned four letters in both cross country and track & field while running in a CMU singlet. In addition Baker won a Mid-American Conference title at 800 meters and has run a personal best of 1:48.0 for that distance. Baker enjoyed notable success as a high school coach at Rockford High School for the past 17 years. During his tenure as Head Coach Baker directed the team to four conference championships, three regional titles, two MITCA team state titles and two MHSAA Track & Field Finals runner-up finishes. In addition he has had numerous athletes earn All-State and All-Conference honors. While a middle distance runner by trade, Baker has significant experience coaching all the running events. A USATF Level I Coach, Baker will use that expertise to assist with the Saints' sprint and hurdle squads.

Matt Hewson Assistant Coach

Matt Hewson is the newest addition to the Aquinas track & field staff. A 2010 Aquinas graduate and a four-year letter-winner in track & field, Hewson was a driving force behind the Saints three WHAC Outdoor Championships during the 2008-2010 seasons.

An accomplished sprinter during his collegiate career Hewson was a consistent scorer in the indoor and outdoor WHAC Conference Meets for Aquinas and participated in three NAIA National Meets. Hewson's leadership skills were recognized by the track & field program when the Captain's Award was renamed the Matt Hewson Captain's Award following his graduation in 2010.

Hewson will work with the sprinters and hurdlers.

Sprints/Hurdles

After graduating three seniors off the 2012 school record setting 4x100m relay team that included ten-time WHAC Champion and four-time All-American Rumeal McKinney, the Saints look to rebuild a strong tradition of sprinters with returning upperclassmen and some exciting newcomers. The men’s core of sprinters will be led by sophomore Ryan Parminter, a sophomore from Newaygo, who owns the #3 fastest outdoor 200m and was a member of that current record holding 4x100m relay team.  The Saints will look for solid performances from senior Austin Palmer of Williamston, freshmen Chris Eggenberger of Rockford, freshmen Ryan Makinen of DeWitt and senior Alvaro Romero of Peru.  The Saints also return three members of the 2^nd fastest indoor and 4^th fastest outdoor 4x400m relay teams. Sophomores Ray Bordeaux of Belding, Jason Parnell of Byron Center and Caleb Teachout of Grand Rapids West Catholic will be looking to set both indoor and outdoor records this season and looking to also make a big impact on the relay is junior Joe Slomski of Grand Rapids West Catholic and freshmen Eric Reed of Reed City.

The Saints hurdlers will be guided by the leadership of senior Brad Farley. Farley of Crosswell-Lexington, will look to end his senior season with top five performances in the indoor 60 hurdles and the outdoor 110 hurdles. The Saints are also excited with the addition of freshmen Alex Cookenmaster of Grand Blanc who will look to challenge Farley this season.

Jumps

The Aquinas men look to have an outstanding year out of their jumps crew. The Saints will return senior Ryan Helminiak of Manistee, who hold the #2 best high jump both indoors and outdoors, also a four time national qualifier and 2012 NAIA Indoor All-American along with sophomore Mike Shearon of Brighton and senior Garret Swain of Lansing.  Freshmen Chris Ford, a West Catholic graduate will look to begin to un-tap his potential while learning from an experienced group. Transfer Alvaro Romero from Peru is expecting to have major success in his first season as a Saint. Romero is an experienced competitor on the international level and will look to make his presence known in the NAIA as a long and triple jumper. On the vault runway, the Saints welcome Adam Lohner, an East Grand Rapids native to the program. Adam, a transfer student from Central Michigan will be a serious contender for the WHAC Championships in the vault and will look to conquer both school records by the end of the season.

Throws

The Saints return senior Joe Stachowicz of Whitehall for his final season.  Joe is a solid competitor in all throwing events, but will be looking to chase the school records in both the 35 lb. weight throw indoors and hammer throw outdoors. As a multiple time national qualifier and member of two ‘Top 5’ lists, Joe will vie for conference championships both indoors and outdoors. Joining Joe on the throws squad this year are freshmen Clay Weidenhamer of Sparta and Cody Wininger of Hopkins. Clay will work more with the shot put and Cody with the 35lb weight, hammer and discus.

Middle-Distance

The men’s middle distance squad has been a force nationally over the last couple of seasons.  The Saints will have to overcome the loss of Dustin Heiler and Nick Thelen, but will showcase the talents of Grant Gunneson and Caleb Teachout in 2013.  The dynamic duo was half of the National Champion 4x8 team from 2012 and have accounted for seven All-American honors between the two of them.  Teachout owns three school records and is listed in the top-five in six different events, while Gunneson claims two school records and is a part of five top-five lists.  The pair will look to the youth of the team to add depth and support in the multitude of middle distance events during the indoor season.  The goal by outdoor season will be to find two more bodies to fill the holes left in the 4x800 meter relay.

Distance

Hot off the heels of a fifth place finish at the NAIA Cross Country National Championships, the distance cupboard seems to be full of plenty of willing and able Saints.  The group will be spearheaded by juniors Brendan Moloney, Dan Foley, Stephen Glinski and Kevin Mahar.  “WHAC Newcomer of the Year”, Jacob Towne will also be looked upon to provide immediate assistance at the conference and national level.  The coaching staff will also look to Jeff Cherry, Blake Bitner, Geoff Albaugh and Brad Persbacher to be a factor in both the WHAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships.