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Claud Spinks

Eagles Landing HS Social Studies / Meet Director / GATFXCCA Distance Summit Chair

15 Years of Experience

Claud.Spinks@henry.k12.ga.us



What is your coaching position and event areas? 
I no longer coach, but when I was still active I coached XC, all jumps, hurdles, sprints, middle and long distance in track.

How long have you been coaching and at what schools?
2001-02 was my first year.  All at Eagle's Landing HS

What are some highlights of your program/individual accomplishments?
100+ signed to compete in college, 26 region championship teams, 20+ individual state champions, 5 athletes have gone on to become NCAA D1 all-americans, 2 have met the Olympic A standard.  

Who are some of your mentors and why?
George Phillips and Kerry Hansard are both guys who taught me a lot about all the events in track and field

What motivates you as a coach?
I don't coach anymore but I always feared that an athlete would want to be better than I had the ability to coach him or her. I was lucky to have several. Those athletes always pushed me to be better than I was before

What area of your program do you feel you can "hang your hat" as your signature strength?
I think the easiest answer would be the 800, but I think I am prouder of the fact that my track teams were always good in the technical events (field events and hurdles)

Are there any other programs/coaches you admire? 
Union Grove is similar to the way I ran my program, they excel in the field and hurdles as well as the distance events. Brady Sigler is another that I admire. He coaches every event in track. There aren't many like that left.

What is the best change(s) you have experienced as a coach for T&F, XC or both?  
Locally, all-weather tracks in Henry Co have caused track here to become very high level. State wide, I think sectionals in track has really helped our sport. Also, distance training in Georgia is at a very high level in Georgia. I have also been able to get to know a bunch of great coaches who are now friends.

When you "hang up the whistle" at some point, how would you like to be remembered by your athletes and colleagues/rival coaches?  
The whistle has been hung up. I'd like to be remembered as an athlete centered coach who wanted to help the sports of xc and track grow for everyone.