Tim O'Neill
Charles StelkAfter taking last season off from coaching Stelk has returned to for a talented senior class that will make a run at history in this years State Championship Meet. No team in Iowa state history has ever won the same event 3 years running setting a state record each time. The 1600 medley will attempt to do that this year with only two runners returning from last years squad. "400 runners are the athletes who win team titles, and at Assumption, we train to win."
John is most notably remembered for coaching Iowa track and field legend Brett Adams and a host of other talented runners who have gone on to enjoy successful collegiate careers.
Leading this years distance squad for the Knights will be Senior Peter Wood, who finished 4th at the state cross country meet. Coach Allen says, "If some of the underclassmen step up this season, we'll have one of the strongest distance squads in the state."
John Ball
Distance Coach
Contact Information jtwb@hotmail.com
Ball, a former Davenport Central and Bettendorf prep, had an outstanding high school career in cross country and track and field. Ball was a two-time state place winner in the 800 meter run at the Iowa State Track Meet, including a second-place, elite all-state performance as a junior in 1996. As a senior in 1997 Ball qualified for the state meet in the 200, 400, and 800 meter runs. John went on to run at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona and competed primarily in the 800 meters while also running the 400 in relays. He earned 2 varsity letters as a member of the Sun Devils track and field squad before a series of injuries forced him to take a year off from the sport. In 2003 John beat out fellow coach Charles Stelk to claim the crown of “fastest man in the Quad Cities” as he edged the defending champion by 3 tenths of a second with less than 10 meters to go in the famous Bix Sprint. John is now a chiropractor in Phoenix, Arizona but is still an integral member of O'Neill's coaching braintrust.
Shaun Allen
Distance Coach
Contact Information shaunallen1979@yahoo.com
Shaun Allen is entering his first season coaching the Knights. A Fort Madison graduate, Shaun was named the Drake Relays Outstanding Performer after sweeping both the 1,600 (4:23.85) and 3,200 (9:25.60) meter titles in 1998. Allen's time of 15:16 run at the state cross country meet in 1997 still stands as the 3rd fastest of all time. Having graduated from the University of Iowa in 2003, Allen is widely regarded as one of the greatest distance runners in the history of the University.
Coree Snyder
Sprints Coach
Contact Information coree_k@hotmail.com
Entering her second season as sprints coach for the Knights, Coach Snyder will look to a strong senior class trying to cap off their careers in style. Coree was a two sport athlete in high school competing in both track and volleyball. While at The Colorado School of Mines, Coree was a standout on the volleyball team. Now taking classes at Palmer College of Chiropractic, Coree will graduate next year with her DC.
Last season, Coree had three sprinters in Joe Conklin, Ben Irmen and Mike Craddick that teamed up with Brett Adams to win a state championship in the 1600 medley relay. Coree looks to continue that success this year with both Conklin and Craddick returning for their senior campaigns.