Assistant Coaches

Mac Wilkins — Assistant Coach: Throws

Phone: 503-780-7310
Email: mwilkins@cu-portland.edu

Mac Wilkins, Olympic gold and silver medalist, former world record holder and USA Track & Field Hall of Fame member enters his second season as Concordia University's track and field program as throws coach.

A native Oregonian, Wilkins' career spanned 21 years, including four Olympic teams and four world records in the discus. He set three of those records on a single day in 1976, during which he raised his prior world record from 226' 11" to 232' 6". A 1973 graduate of the University of Oregon, Wilkins also had lifetime bests of 69' 1-1/4"; in the shot put, 208' 10" in the hammer throw and 257' 4" in the javelin.

He was nationally ranked in three events but it was in the discus where he achieved his greatest glory. In 1976, Wilkins not only shattered the world record in the event but won the gold medal at the Olympics after setting an Olympic record of 224' 0" in the preliminaries. He was also on the 1980 U.S. Olympic team that didn't compete, placed second at the 1984 Games and was fifth at the 1988 Games. In addition, Wilkins was the 1979 Pan-American Games champion, was second in the 1977 and 1979 World Cups and was 10th at the 1983 World Championships. He was top-ranked in the world in 1976 and 1980 and was the top-ranked U.S. discus thrower eight times, including five in a row from 1976 through 1980. He was inducted into the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1993.

As a well-known coach and teacher, Wilkins shares the positive life values of sport not just with elite competitive athletes but also in community fitness programs for grade school children. He is currently the technical coaching consultant to the USA Track & Field's elite program for men and women discus throwers. He is also the Director of the Oregon Throwers Academy in Portland. Wilkins is also involved with local organizations that support young athletes as an instructor and fundraiser.

LaVon Pierce — Assistant Coach: Hurdles and Sprints

As a senior at Benson Tech (Portland, OR) in 1990, Pierce was a three-event state champion, winning the 200-meter and 400-meter events while running on the 4 x 400-meter champion relay team. His 47.3 second 400-meter time is third fastest in Oregon prep history. Pierce went on to be an outstanding sprinter in the 100m, 200m, and 400m at the University of Oregon from 1991-1994, and had personal bests of 10.53 (100m), 21.3(200m) and 46.3(400m).

"LaVon is a tremendous addition to our track staff," Dalzell said. "He is a wonderful person to be around and has a strong commitment to developing the total person - athletically, academically, and spiritually, which fits right into the philosophy of the program we are developing. His experience as a top athlete and coach at the high school and college level has shown that he also has the ability to get the best out of himself and the athletes he coaches. He is the ideal coach and mentor for the young people in our program."

Pierce served as an assistant coach for sprints at Benson Tech from 1995-1998 and the head boys sprint coach at Benson from 1998-2002. He was a key person in developing a number of state individual and relay champions in the sprints at Benson. Pierce was the sprints and hurdles coach at Mt. Hood Community College for two years (prior to coming to Concordia) where he developed three All-Americans his first season. Pierce has worked with a number of top collegiate and high school coaches including Leon McKenzie, John Mays and George Walcott.

Pierce and his wife Twila live in Portland with their two children, Xavier and Jada.

Herman Johnson — Assistant Coach: Jumps

Herman is a graduate of Jamestown College, where he earned a double degree in Psychology/Sociology. He was a two-time All-American, and captured seven NDCAC individual titles in the triple jump and long jump. Herman was also inducted into the College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Coach Johnson has been a fitness consultant and track coach for over 30 years. He has served as an assistant coach at Hudson's Bay High School in Vancouver, Washington, since 1998, and continues to work with the Eagles. He also currently assists the jumpers at Clark Community College. He was also a coach at Mt. Hood Community College before accepting the position at Concordia, and has coached champion jumpers at the 2A, 3A, and 4A high school levels, as well as a number of NWWAC champions.

Herman is certified in Sports Hypnotism and Personal Training, and is a practitioner of Myoskeletal Alignment and Emotional Freedom Technique.

Herman and his wife, Karen are the parents of five children, and also have three fast-moving grandchildren who have a hard time keeping up with their grandfather.

Rick Baggett - Pole Vault Specialist

Director of the Willamette Striders Pole Vault Facility

The Cavaliers are very fortunate to have the opportunity to send our pole vaulters to Rick Baggett at the indoor vaulting facility he has developed in the Portland area. Rick is the USA T&F Northwest Director of Pole Vault Development. He has coached 14 state prep champions in a 22 year span in Washington/Oregon. As well as 12 of the last 16 Male Community College champions and all of the women champions. His vaulters dominate the Northwest standings for both male and female. He has spoken at many clinics and seminars during the last 22 years. In 2001 he was named the National Womens C.C. coach of the year by USATF Development. And in 2003 was named Club Coach of the year by USATF-Oregon.

Rick's training methods are used by many of the top developmental coaches. He uses an athletic and holistic approach so the development is appropriate to the age and skill level of the individual athlete.

Rick is without a doubt the single most influential coach in the Northwest today. His dynamic teaching methods have made the Willamette Striders Pole Vaulting facility the place to be if you are interested in becoming a successful PoleVaulter.

Peter Stolpe — Assistant Coach: Racewalk
Decathlon & Heptathlon

Peter comes to Concordia University from a very long line of running lineage. His grandfather was a Masters track and field record holder in the sprints, his uncles were track athletes at various universities, and his father was a 400m runner at Oklahoma State University in the late sixties. His mother was a very successful road racing producer for 25 years having organized the Olympic Marathons for the 1984 Los Angeles Games, the Los Angeles Marathon, multiple national marathons, Boulder to Boulder, and numerous other road races across the country. Peter and his twin brother competed together at their alma mater California State University at San Marcos where they set numerous records during their time with the track team in a multitude of events. Peter still holds the discus and hammer records for CSUSM.

After college, Peter transitioned and competed for the San Diego Track Club as a racewalker. He learned and competed against many of the country's best racewalkers who were stationed at the Arco Olympic Training Center in San Diego in preparation for the 2004 Olympic Trials. He competed in national racewalk events and helped coordinate volunteer efforts for the IAAF racewalking series in San Diego. He has been involved as a coach for racewalking since this time, and continues to conduct and lecture at clinics to promote the sport of racewalking.

During his time in San Diego, Peter was fortunate to coach and work at the Shiley Sports Institute in La Jolla, Ca. He was able to work under the tutelage of Dean Brittenham where together they trained athletes from all major sports (NBA, MLB, NFL, and numerous Olympic and elite athletes) in developing greater flexibility, athleticism, and explosive strength. He has coached and presented at numerous clinics for youth camps, high schools, college level, and United States Olympic Development Camps in Track and Field.

In addition to his 25 + years in running, Peter has been a running shoe store manager and owner, a consultant for running shoe companies, and a coach at all levels of track and field and running in every event and distance. He is currently a student in the Masters in Arts of Teaching program at Concordia in addition to his coaching duties. Peter and his wife Tracy can be found running and walking their dog around the Concordia neighborhood when not involved in track and running.

Scott Halley — Assistant Coach: Javelin

As an athlete for Concordia University, Scott Halley was the 2006 NAIA National Champion in the javelin throw. His mark of 235' 9" was far enough to rank him among the top 20 elite throwers in the US. At 160 pounds, Halley attributed his marks to his technique and understanding of the javelin throw. He now joins the coaching staff as a graduate assistant coach in the javelin. Scott also works full-time on Concordia's campus as a Network Support Technician.

In addition to earning the 2006 NAIA National Championship, Scott was 2006 Finalist for the Ad Rutschman Small College Athlete of the Year. He was also three-time NAIA All American (Javelin) and the 1997 4A Oregon State Champion (Javelin).

Scott has participated in numerous clinics and workshops; most recently he presented at the 2006 Top Eight Throws Clinic. Prior to returning to Concordia University, Scott volunteered coaching javelin at Gresham High School in Gresham.

Mike Milakovic — Assistant Coach: Hammer

Mike is a 1998 graduate of Ball State University with a degree in Exercise Science and Wellness. While attending college in Muncie, IN he set 10 school records as a member of the football and track & field teams, and was two-time team captain and MVP and a NCAA provisional qualifier.

Since graduating Mike has pursued his dream of qualifying for the Olympics. He has trained internationally with world class throwers from Russia, Finland, Italy, India, Australia, Spain, Egypt, Germany, and Switzerland. Mike was a USATF National Qualifier with a throw of 70.26m (230'6) and a 2004 Olympic Trials Provisional Qualifier.

After taking almost two years off, he is currently training for the 2008 Olympic trials. Mike has established a non-profit organization, "Rings of Dreams" aimed at raising money for Olympic/Olympic Hopeful athletes to help with their training and living expenses as they prepare for the upcoming Olympic Games.

Mike brings extensive coaching experience to Concordia having coached hammer throw/strength and conditioning at Ohio State University, throwing events at Foothill College and strength and conditioning at Arizona State University.

Tim Bright - Pole vault and decathlon/heptathlon coach

Coach Bright joined the Concordia coaching staff in the Spring of 2008 and has been a tremendous source of insight for both the multi-event and pole vault athletes.

Tim wanted to play football, but was told he was too small...then discovered he was good at many different track and field events -- enter the decathlon! One year after finishing college at Abilene Christian University, where he won the NCAA division II decathlon, Tim made his first of three Olympic teams. He competed twice as a decathlete and once as a pole vaulter in the Olympic Games. After competing in 7 events at the 1988 Olympic Games in Korea, he set a world record in the pole vault decathlon. He won the American national championships in pole vault in 1991 and 1992, and the decathlon in 1987. He was continually ranked in the top 10 nationally for over 10 years. He is a 19'2 plus vaulter and an 8,400 plus decathlete, a 3-time Olympian, 4-world championship team member and a member of the ACU sports Hall of Fame.

LaReina Starr - Assistant Coach - Sprints, Hurdles, and Jumps

LaReina Starr joined the Cavalier Track and Field staff in the Fall of 2007 and has been a tremendous resource for athlete mentoring in the sprints, hurdles, and jumps as well as in therapeutic recovery through massage and other restorative treatments.

LaReina (Woods) Starr was one of the best all-around athletes in Oregon prep history at Corvallis High School where she was the State Champion in the 100m and 200m meters four years in row and was also first-team all-state in basketball and volleyball. She still holds the all-time record in the state of Oregon for the girls 100m. LaReina continued her success in college, where she was the Pac-10 Champion in the 100 meters and an NCAA Division 1 All-American with her 4x400 women's team at University of Oregon.

LaReina received her BA in Sociology from the University of Oregon. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist for Bauman Chiropractic in Vancouver, WA. She and her husband, Ian, are proud parents of son Silas and daughter Mia.

Jason Mueller - Assistant Coach - Cross Country/Track & Field Distance

Jason Mueller joined the Cavalier coaching staff in the Fall of 2007, coming from the University of Wisconsin, one of the top NCAA Division 1 distance running programs in the nation, where he was an assistant track and cross country coach from 2004-07. He brings a wealth of experiences and insights that have been a most valuable part of the distance development of a number of runners in the Concordia Cross Country and Track & Field programs.

Jason had a highly decorated high school career at Shelby High School in Shelby Ohio that included the Nike Indoor National Classic Championship in the 2-mile, Nike Outdoor National Championship runner-up, three Ohio State Championships (two in the 3200m and one in the 1600m), two All-American Awards, and nine All-State awards.

Jason continued this success in college, graduating from Michigan State University in 2003 where he was a two-time NCAA cross country national qualifier, two-time team MVP, the 2003 Michigan Intercollegiate Cross Country Champion, and a 4 year team captain.