Track Coaches

Track Coach Interview

After all the track program has gone through throughout the years, people are wondering, who is coaching nowadays?  Well, ready, set, go…meet our track coaches.  

Name: Shawn McAnallen

Position: Boys head coach

How long have you been coaching? Since 1999 till the present

Have you ever coached another sport? JV Baseball,  JV Cross Country,  Varsity Football, Varsity Lacrosse. 

What do you hope to accomplish this season? I hope to accomplish our mission statement in track and field which is that all athletes who participate show growth and improvement throughout the season. It’s important that all the athletes begin with the end in mind during this track season.  

What obstacles have you had to overcome in track? The first obstacle is Mother Nature.  Spring sports are difficult when the weather is not favorable for training and conditioning.  The second obstacle is getting the athletes in shape for performance in April and May.  

What are you most excited about going into this track season? I’m mostly excited to make track great again here at Knoch High School.  I have the opportunity to work with an awesome Girls Head Coach Amy Formica. We share all the duties of running the Spring Track program. There is no I in team, and having a great co-worker makes the machine run very well.

Name: Amy Formica

Position: Girls head coach

How long have you been coaching?

I have been coaching Track for 4 years.

Have you ever coached another sport?

I also coach Cross Country.

What do you hope to accomplish this season?

I hope to give every athlete an opportunity to grow and succeed while also having fun.

What obstacles have you had to overcome in track?

I have always been a distance runner, but track involves so much more than just running. There was A LOT to learn about other events like jumping, hurdling to be able to coach those disciplines.

What are you most excited about going into this track season?

I am very excited to be working with the new men’s head coach, Mr. McAnallen. We are making fundamental changes for the program, hoping to make it more inclusive and a positive experience for everyone.

Name: Justin Heinle

Position: Hurdles coach

How long have you been coaching?

14 years of Coaching.

Have you ever coached another sport?

Yes, soccer, triathlon, powerlifting, strength and conditioning.  

What do you hope to accomplish this season?

Hurdles are about running through a brick wall.

What obstacles have you had to overcome in track?

Learning a sport I never played

What are you most excited about going into this track season?

The Athletes! 

Name: Duane Burtner

Position: Pole vault coach

How long have you been coaching?

First Year

Have you ever coached another sport?

KASA soccer and elementary basketball

What do you hope to accomplish this season?

Help the pole vaulters place in the meets

What obstacles have you had to overcome in track?

None yet

 What are you most excited about going into this track season?

Helping the kids do their best

Name: Ralph Lemon

Position: Jump coach

How long have you been coaching?

I have coached track & field for 16 years, 10 years at Kiski Area High School and 6 years at Knoch.  I also coached the South Butler Flyers USATF Track & Field team during the summers of the same years I coached at Kiski Area.  

Have you ever coached another sport?

I coached the Saxonburg Spartans youth football team for two years many years ago. 

What do you hope to accomplish this season?

My goal every year is to help each of our students become better athletes and to improve their individual performance, which in turn improves the strength of our team. In track and field, athletic improvement is measurable. We use stopwatches and measuring tapes. Along with tackling and perhaps more importantly, we try to help or at least become self motivated and more confident in their ability to take control of their own improvement.

What obstacles have you had to overcome in track?

I would say the greatest obstacles to overcome would be an athlete’s lack of confidence in themselves and the lack of desire and self motivation to exert the effort necessary to reach their potential. 

What are you most excited about going into this track season?

It’s always exciting to anticipate the possibilities that exist for our athletes as the season begins. Some of those possibilities will be achieved and even surpassed, as we will celebrate those accomplishments. But unfortunately, some will not materialize. Those are the tough days, but that’s just the nature of athletic competition. Both of those experiences are important to a young athletes maturing process. I just enjoy having the privilege to be a part of that process.

Name: Nicole Cress

Position: Sprint coach

How long have you been coaching?

I’ve coached young athletes for three years but this is my first track coach job.  

Have you ever coached another sport?

Nope, I always worked with track athletes.

What do you hope to accomplish this season?

I want to help athletes accomplish their goals and help them learn to care for their bodies properly.  

What obstacles have you had to overcome in track?

Track is hard because it’s hard to maintain your progress. Many better athletes will peak and then plateau or decline. That was my biggest obstacle.  

What are you most excited about going into this track season?

I’m most excited about what I can learn from my athletes I will work with since this is my first official track coaching job. I’m also excited to see everyone succeed.