COACHES CORNER

The Coaches Corner is a Long & Strong feature. The coaches below have volunteered their time to answer technique/training questions from our visitors. If you are "undercoached", drop one of the guys an e-mail and take advantage of their expertise. Success starts above the neckline!!!

JERRY BOWERSOX, H.S. Coach, Masters Thrower, Hudsonville, MI
JBSOX.jpg (31815 bytes) Jerry has coached girls H.S. throwing (shot & discus) for 9 years and has participated in the throws (discus, shot, javelin, and last 5years hammer and 35# weight) as a Master (9-time Masters All-American). He's seeking to become a National Champion in his age-group in the Hammer and has participated in Highland Games all over the country. Coaching highlights include having a conference champion thrower (girls shot put) 4 of 7 years and a 4th place finisher in the State Championships. Hudsonville has also produced a discus conference champion. Jerry also works indirectly with the Hudsonville boys who have produced two state discus champions (176' and 165'), several state placers and numerous conference champions. Jerry spent a week learning by doing at the John Powell Throwing Camp at Dennison University in Granville, Ohio where he rubbed shoulders with big guys Powell and Brian Oldfield.
JIM AIKENS, H.S. Coach, Fremd, IL
Aikens.jpg (16928 bytes) "I have coached the throws since 1984. During this time I have worked with two state champions in the shot put and one in the discus. Other state medalist I have coached are two 2nd places, a 3rd place and a 9th place in the shot put. Other state medallists in the discus are a 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, and an 8th place. I have coached numerous conference, and sectional champions. In fourteen of the fifteen years that I have been coaching, I have had at least one state qualifier. I have also had the honor of working with four top-ten nationally ranked throwers. Since 1991 I have coached three shot putters that have thrown better than 62 feet.  This past year I coached Kenton Kemeny who is now at University of Iowa.  He won the state meet in Illinois in the shot and took second in the discus.  He also took third at the Golden West this past year.   He was named an all-American by Track & Field News."
DAVE KUNKLE, Astronaut H.S. Coach, Titusville, FL
Kunkle.jpg (27708 bytes) Dave has coached his athletes to: two national titles, 3 state championships, 7 runners-up, 2 third places and numerous state qualifiers during his seven years of coaching. Dave is a recent graduate of the University of Central Florida and has a good understanding of weight training, plyometrics and medicine ball training.