Mike Ellson, CMAA / Final Form

Keynote Speaker

Mike was the first coach and founding athletic director at Christ Presbyterian Academy (CPA), an independent school in Nashville, TN, where he taught and coached from 1987 – 2022. Transformational Coaching was the foundational centerpiece of the athletic program under Mike’s direction, focusing on character development and personal growth. Mike currently serves as the executive director of TIAAA, and is a member of the NIAAA Professional Development Academy Curriculum Team. During his 35 years at CPA, Mike coached sports at every level including basketball, baseball, cross country, soccer, and track. He was a varsity head boys basketball coach for twelve years and a varsity head girls basketball coach for three years with his teams winning over 250 games during his coaching career. Mike was recently selected as a 2024 NIAAA Hall of Fame recipient and serves as a consultant/mentor for Athletic Directors and Coaches across the USA.

Spencer Breedlove, Devotional Speaker / Life Coach

Spencer Breedlove is the owner of Cord of Three Coaching, a life, marriage, and business coaching enterprise he and his wife Lisa started in 2024.

Spencer's life took a significant turn in his early childhood when he trusted Jesus Christ to be his Lord and Savior. The next most significant event in his life was in the Spring of 1993 when he met Lisa as a student at the University of Georgia. This encounter marked the beginning of a lifelong relationship that would shape both their personal and professional lives. Their love for each other grew quickly and they were married in August of 1994.

As a life coach, Spencer meshes his training, knowledge and experience from coaching athletes, leading church ministry, serving coaches and athletes through the ministry of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and operating in a C-level role in the corporate world to empower individuals and couples to create growth through meaningful conversations. His approach to coaching is characterized by:

Genuine Care: Spencer is known for his authentic love for people, which naturally overflows in his interactions with clients.
Courageous Growth: He focuses on igniting and empowering courageous growth in those he coaches.
Holistic Approach: Spencer's coaching expertise spans across life, marriage, non-profit organizations and business domains, offering comprehensive support to clients.

Spencer and Lisa have been married for 30 years and have three adult children. They operate Cord of Three Coaching from their home in Monroe, GA, and are the hosts of the Cord of Three Podcast which produces weekly episodes to generate meaningful conversations in their listener’s lives. Spencer is also the Executive Pastor at Gratis Church and is the Voice of the Lions at Westminster Christian Academy in Watkinsville. Connect with Spencer online at www.cordofthreecoaching.com.

Sue Humphrey, Elite Olympic / Collegiate / Personal Coach

Coach Humphrey's resume' is second to none. Check out these highlights from her highly decorated career! This includes being the only female coach to have NCAA champions in High Jump, Long Jump, & Triple Jump. She was the personal coach of the first woman High Jumper in the world to clear 2.00m indoors. Additionally, Sue was the Personal Coach of 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Men’s High Jump, Charles Austin and led Olympians in the 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, & 2021 games. She is the author of two (2) books "I Want to Run" (Amazon, training guide for beginning youth runners, coaches & parents and wrote "Olympic Fun in Paris" (children's activity book with puzzles, crosswords, etc.).

Coaching Accomplishments

Founder of the "Gold Medal Coaches Summit" (virtual coaching summit)
1st NIKE Coach of the Year recipient--1998
Head Coach Team USA Women's Olympic Team--2004
Assistant Coach Team USA Women Olympic Team--1996
Head Manager Team USA Women's Olympic Team--1992
Volunteer Assistant University of Texas Women's Track & Field--2009-10
Volunteer Assistant University of Texas Men's Track & Field--1992-95
Assistant Coach University of Texas Women's Track & Field--1984-89
Assistant Coach for California State University—Long Beach Women’s Track & Field, 1982-84
Assistant Coach for Arizona State University Women’s Track & Field--1975-81
Former Chair of Women’s Track & Field Committee
First Chairman of USA Track & Field High Performance Committee, 2000
Member of USATF Women’s Track & Field
- - - Executive Committee
    - Law & Legislation Committee
    - Coaches Education Committee
    - Coaches Advisory Committee
    - Women’s Commission
    - High Performance Committee
Former President, Vice President, Secretary, & Membership Chair of the South Texas USATF Association
Coach of AAU, TAC, USATF club teams, 1965-currently

Nick Dodson, Southeastern University Track & Field Head Coach

Nick Dodson is a former high school student athlete who competed in multiple sports at Thomas County Central High School (2002-2006). Nick currently is the record holder at TCC in the 110m Hurdles (14.06) and 300m Hurdles (38.03). In his senior season he finished as the GHSA Region 1-AAAA champion in both hurdles events, followed by winning the 4A state championship in the 300m Hurdles in 2006. The hard work and accomplishments led to being the first signee in Shorter University T&F history which led to a very successful college career. At the collegiate level, the Hawks T&F program earned four (4) Mid-South Conference Championships as a team (2008-2011). In competition, Nick earned a total of ten (10) event championships in three different events, including being a 4x champion representing the Mid-South Conference in the 400m Hurdles (2008-2011). This led to Dodson qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Trials in the 400 hurdles.

Nick Dodson was hired at SEU during the spring of 2018 to build the foundation for the track and field program. During his journey, Coach Dodson has earned eight Sun Conference Coach of the Year titles, which includes a total of five Sun Conference Outdoor Track and Field titles established in six seasons by both the men's and women's teams. Since the beginning of the Sun Conference sponsoring indoor track and field in 2021, the SEU Fire have also won every championship title.

Coaching Accomplishments

14x Conference Coach of the Year
2x National Coach of the Year
11x USTFCCCA South Region Coach of the Year
1 National Team Title (2023)
1 National Runner-up Team Placement (2022)
1 3rd Place National Team Placement (2023)
11 USATF Masters National Champions
1 USATF W30 National Track and Field Athlete of the Year
USATFM World #1 ranking W35 in 100m Hurdles (13.71) & 400m Hurdles (59.86)
4 Women's Conference Track Athlete of the Year
4 Men’s Conference Field Athlete of the Year
3 Women’s Conference Freshman of the Year
2 Men’s Conference Freshman of the Year
Over 70 individual Conference Champions
11 Academic All-Americans
82 Conference All-Academic Team
120 National Qualifiers
18 Selected to All-South Region Team
101 All-Americans
9 National Runner-up performances
9 National Champions
10 Athletes on NAIA All-Time Top 10 list in respective events.
7 World University Games Qualifier
2 U20 Qualifier (USA)
1 U23 Qualifier (Team Ireland)
Head Track and Field Coach for Team USA World University Team (Mexico and China)
1 World University Games Medalist (Silver Women’s 400m) China
Member of the NAIA National Games Committee for the Indoor National Championships 2020-2023
USA Track and Field Level 1 and Level 2 certified in Sprints-Hurdles-Relays
USA Track and Field Emerging Elite Class in 2014 in Chula Vista, CA
Chair of the Sun Conference 2022-Present
Chair of the South Region 2022-Present

Doug Soles, Herriman High School (UT) Head XCTF

Doug Soles is the head coach for both the girls and boys programs at Herriman HS located in Herriman, Utah. This past season marked the 25th year for Coach Soles as a head cross country & track coach. His teams have been some of the most successful in US history. He has led his teams to:

2015 and 2023 Nike Cross Nationals Boys Titles
9 NXN Podiums (6 Boys, 3 Girls)
Has had an NXN team on the podium 8 of the last 9 NXN’s!
14 California State D1 Titles – 1 Utah 6A State Title – 1 NXR SW Title
40+ League or Region Titles (XC and Track combined)
17 Mt. SAC XC and Relays Team Titles
Many sub 5:00 girls and sub 4:15 boys
Multi-time National Coach of the Year
2010-19 Girls XC Coach of the Decade (Maxpreps.com)

Arlena Epps, Life Coach / USATF Level 1 Coach & USATF Official Starter & Meet Manager

For the love of track and field, and once a high school athlete myself, I was inspired by my four children who have excelled in various facets of the sport, including Region and Jr. Olympics, holding state and Region titles in hurdles, and achieving runner-up positions in the 400m dash. This inspiration led me to actively participate in the sport. Over the past 20 years, I have obtained my Level 1 Coach certification from USATF and have been dedicated to training and fostering athletes with the Mark Trail Flying Eagles. Additionally, I have served on the USA and Georgia Track and Field Board and the Youth Committee, creating valuable experiences for our Georgia athletes. I enjoy directing meets, conducting starter clinics, and timing high school and college meets. My passion lies in guiding and motivating athletes to reach their full potential and ensuring they feel comfortable in the process. Furthermore, I love traveling the world solo, unlocking great adventures, and cherish being a mom as a lifetime treasure.

Jason Karp, PhD, MBA/ USATF Level III Instructor / Distance Specialist & Exercise Physiologist

A competitive runner since sixth grade, Dr. Jason Karp quickly learned how running molds us into better, more deeply conscious people, just as the miles and interval workouts mold us into faster, more enduring runners. This passion Jason found as a kid placed him on a path he still follows as a coach, exercise physiologist, entrepreneur, and author of 15 books and 400 articles. His TED talk, How Running Like an Animal Makes Us Human, has inspired people around the world. He is the 2011 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year and two-time recipient of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Community Leadership award. His run coaching certification was obtained by coaches and fitness professionals in 26 countries before being acquired by International Sports Sciences Association. In 2021, he became the first American distance running coach to live and coach in Kenya, and he has served as a sports science and coach consultant to the Chinese Athletics Association.

TAVIE ALLAN, Norcross High School / NASM Certified & USATF Level 2

Coach Allan has been coaching pole vault at Norcross HS since 2016, Tavie guided athletes to school records, state championship meets, and collegiate careers. Although a high jumper in college, she successfully transitioned to coaching pole vault and developed a passion for supporting coaches as they learn the sport. Realizing athletes needed better knowledge of muscle function and how nutrition can affect their performance, she became NASM Certified in both Personal Training and Nutrition Coaching. Additionally, she earned certifications for USATF Officiating and Level 2 Coaching. Coach Allan also holds a leadership endorsement from the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA).

Matt Barry, The Davis Academy TFXC / Pole Vault Atlanta

Coach Barry has been a teacher and Head XC/Track coach at The Davis Academy since 2005 and has been with Pole Vault Atlanta since 2012, where he’s helped create the largest pole vault club in Georgia where he's helped coach 25+ vaulters at the Adidas Outdoor Nationals, New Balance Indoor/Outdoor Nationals, USATF Junior Olympics, the Texas Expo Explosion, MAC Outdoor Nationals & the Millrose Games. Coach Barry is a USATF Level 1 Track & Field Certified Coach & Official who has presented his approach to coaching all levels of pole vaulters at the Texas Expo Explosion, the Dekalb County Coaches Clinic, the GATFXCCA Clinic & the GHSA Coaches Clinics. Coach Barry is also a guest writer for Vaulter Magazine.

Scott Neal, Tallulah Falls School Athletic Director & TFXC Head Coach

Coach Scott Neal is in his 41st year of coaching, 38th year in full-time education as a teacher or administrator, and 26th year at Tallulah Falls School. Coach Neal leads the TFS athletic program and is the head coach of the high school cross country and track & field teams. Scott is a founding member and representative of the Georgia Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, member of the GACA, GADA, GICA, NIAAA, GATFXCCA, USTFCCCA, and NSCA, and has been a USATF Level I instructor. Coach Neal is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and has the USATF Level II certificate in four different categories. Scott has also been a head high school basketball as well as head football coach. In spare time and on breaks, Coach Neal likes traveling to national parks, experiencing the outdoors through various adventures, biking, hiking, researching performance training, and spending time with his wife Dianna and two dogs, Regal and Tink.

Mason Goodman, Bethlehem Christian Academy Assistant Athletic Director & Throws Coach

Coach Goodman resides in Statham, GA. Outside of Coaching he is an avid bowhunter and competes in powerlifting and bodybuilding.

Past four (4) Seasons as a Throws Coach

o 6 Individual Region Championships

o Qualified 21 throwers for State

o 10 state placers

o 2 Individual State Runner Ups

o 2 Individual State Champions

Overall Team Accomplishments:

o 2 Team Region Championships (Boys - 2023, 2024)

o Overall Team State Champions 2024 (Boys)

Bobby Rhoades, Appling County High School Track & Field Head Coach & Strength/Speed Coordinator

Coach Rhoades is a 1998 graduate of Hanover College in Indiana, starting his coaching career as an assistant football coach at Pelham High School that same year. From 1999-2008, Bobby was a college football coach with stops at Delta State University, Tusculum College, the University of Central Arkansas and Illinois State University eventually moving to the high school ranks in 2009. In 2017 he was named the Head Boys T&F Coach at Kate Duncan Smith DAR High School in Grant, AL, accepting the Head Girls T&F Coach at Pepperell High School in Lindale, GA the following year. Coach Rhoades officially took over the Appling County High School T&F program in Baxley, GA during the 2023-2024 school year. During the 2024 season the ACHS boys team won three individual state championships and earned a state runner up finish in route to a 4th Place overall at the GHSA 2A State Championships. Also at ACHS he serves as an assistant football coach and runs the weight room and speed program.

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