Mark Anderson
Grew up in Cashmere and attended Cashmere High School graduating in 1975. I was both a track and cross country athlete at the school. My family was not athletic.
Attended Eastern Washington University graduating in 1981 with a BS in Biology and obtained masters at Gonzaga University. I was a varsity athlete in both cross country and track at Eastern Washington. I am currently attending the University of Idaho.
I am a teacher in both chemistry and biology at Chelan High School completing my 37 th year. I have coach cross country for 32 years and track and field for 34 years. I have always been fascinated by the science inherent in both the sports compelling me to coach.
My most rewarding achievement has been coaching my two sons Torri and Chase Anderson in both cross country and track.
League titles: approx. 16
Team state titles: 88,89,90,97 girls, 97 boys
Individual champions: Hector Rodriquez 94 and Micheal Dols 03
Named Washington State Cross Country Coach of the Year in 89/97/ 98 and Washington State Track and Field Coach of the Year 95. Also coach three Washington State Championship teams in track and field 95/96/98
Married to Rena Rex and I have two children Torri and Chase Anderson. I continue to teach and coach at Chelan High School
Phil English
Background:
I grew up outside a small village in Cullen, County Tipperary in Ireland.
I graduated from Tipperary Vocational School in 1973.
I started running when I was about 13-years when a club was started in my local parish. I had some success right away, and went on to represent Ireland in international competition at the schools, junior and senior level in both track and cross country over the next few years. In 1974, I was Irish national senior champion in the 3,000m Steeplechase.
My uncle and brother did some running when they were young and my father was involved in competitive Tug-O-War. My parents were Michael and Lizzie English. I grew up with one older brother and three sisters. I am the second youngest in the family.
I attended Washington State University on an Athletic Scholarship from 1973-1977. I competed in both Cross Country and Track and Field for the Cougars. The team placed in the top-4 at the NCAA’s all four years. Three fellow Kenyan teammates would go on and set world records on the track in the 1970’s.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1977 and also earned a Master of Science degree in Physical Education from WSU in 1979.
Coaching and Teaching:
Currently I teach and coach (Cross Country and Track & Field) at Eisenhower HS in Yakima. I teach Honors Biology and a college level course in Anatomy and Physiology. I started coaching and teaching at Eisenhower in 1986.
Prior to teaching and coaching at Eisenhower, I taught and coached (Track and Field/Cross Country) at Carroll HS in Yakima from 1979-1986. Carroll HS closed permanently in 1986.
It was never my intention to actually get into coaching. My interests were in teaching and research. However, when I started teaching at Carroll in 1979, the head coaching positions were open in both track and cross country. So teaching and coaching were both part of the same package at the small Catholic school in Yakima. At the time I was training for the 1980 Irish Olympic Trials in the marathon.
Most Outstanding/Rewarding Achievements:
As part of the coaching staffs at Carroll and Eisenhower, I am most proud of helping many individuals achieve a college education by attaining college scholarships in cross country/track & field.
In addition, increasing the status of cross country in the state through the Clear Lake/White Pass Cross Country Camps and Clinics and formation the weekly seasonal Coaches Polls (started in the early 1990’s) have been rewarding.
Coaching Stats:
| League Titles | Girls (21) | Boys (21) |
| District Titles | Girls (21) | Boys (22) |
| State Appearances | Girls (31) | Boys (21) |
| State Trophies | Girls (13) | Boys (12) |
| State Titles | Girls (8….82, 83, 84, 89, 94, 99, 00, 2010) | Boys (3…..1985, 1987 & 2010) |
| State Track Team Title | Girls…1999) | |
| State Runner-Up | Girls (5) | Boys (5) |
| State Trophies | Girls (13) | Boys (12) |
| Individual Champions | Kathy Rouleau (82), Kris Vickers (83), Robert Price (83, 84, 85), Robin Bryson (1988) and Aleah Thome (1994) |
| Nike Team Nationals | 9th Place Boys team (2004) |
| 1994 | Washington State Girls ‘Coach of the Year’ |
| 1999-00 | Monday Morning Quarterbacks, Female Team-‘Coach of the Year’ |
| 2001 | Washington State Girls ‘Coach of the Year’ |
| 2001 | NFHS National Girls ‘Coach of the Year’ |
| 2010-11 | Yakima Sports Awards ‘Coach of the Year’ |
| 2011 | NFHS Northwest Sectional Boys ‘Coach of the Year’ |
Family:
Married to wife Darcy for 39-years
Children….Daughter Liza and son Michael
Grandchildren…..Brennen, Connor, Harper & Hudson
What am I doing now?
- I am currently coaching Cross Country/Track & Field and teaching Biology and Anatomy and Physiology at Eisenhower HS.
- Camp Director (since 1986) for the Clear Lake/ White Pass Cross Country Camp.
- Vice President of the Washington Cross Country Coaches Association.
- President of the Yakima Coaches and Activities Association.
- Meet Director of the Sunfair Cross Country Invitational
Erica Hill
Erica was born in 1973 in Indiana and raised in Seattle. She graduated from Seattle Prep in 1991.
At Prep, she particpated in CC, track, soccer, and basketball. Her family was very athletic as her father played quarterback at Dartmouth College and was drafted by the New York Jets.
Erica attended Seattle Pacific University and the University of Washington, where she graduated in 1996. At SPU she participated in CC and track for two years. Her major in college was psychology.
Erica was a teacher in high school and taught English. She started coaching at Seattle University as an assistant and then switched to high school coaching. She coached at Mercer Island HS from 1996-2016.
Coach Hill says that the thing that she is most proud of would be the number of athletes that came out for CC. When she started coaching, there were 35-40 athletes on the team. As the years progressed, she had consistently 110-130 athletes on the squad. Erica is also very proud of how many alumni came back to coach with her. She had 8 athletes help her out as assistant coaches post college. The team bonding were also a highlight of every coaching season.
Erica’s girls won 3 Kingco Championships and her boys won 2 Kingco Championships. She had 14 State qualifying teams between the boys and girls.
Coach Hill capped it off in 2008 with a Girls State Championship Team!
Two of her individual standouts were Brian Govier, the state champion in 2004 and Lindsey Benster, 3rd place in 2008.
Other notable achievements for Erica was being nominated a Brooks Top 10 finalist for inspirational coaches and having 4 of her teams named Academic State Champions.
Her two daughters are Zia and Kalea. Coach Hill is presently an administrator in the Northshore School District.
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