Geneva Hires Thompson as Head Coach Starting June 2014 - Geneva College
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Geneva Hires Thompson as Head Coach Starting June 2014

Geneva Hires Thompson as Head Track Coach

Thompson14.jpgBeaver Falls, PA- With all indoor sports drawing to a close last week, the focus switches to the start of spring sports including the men′s and women′s track and field teams.

Not only is the team transitioning from indoor to outdoor, it is preparing to transition to a new head coach. Current head coach Brian Yowler announced his resignation last month as the head track and field coach but will remain as the men and women′s cross country coach and Biology professor.

The transition, though, will begin this summer as Geneva has chosen current assistant Phil Thompson to step up into the head coaching position for the men and women′s track and field programs at Geneva starting June 1st, 2014.

"It′s been a great process learning under Coach Yowler and Coach Wargo. They have guided the program to what it is today and instilled in the athletes to be competitive and walk with God as well" said Thompson. "I want to win and want the athletes to strive to be better people out in the community and spiritually."

Thompson′s simple but passionate vision has been built from a variety of experiences all starting locally at New Castle′s Shenango school district. It was there that Thompson started running cross country in 7th grade and over time set his sights on track and field. His track and field career took him to the state finals all four years in high school and has led him to be the most decorated distant runner in Robert Morris University history, including a first-place finish in the Mississippi half marathon.

Since competing for RMU, Thompson has been using his Elementary Education major as a teacher′s aide at Union Middle School while serving as the cross country coach at Shenango High School. He has also been an assistant at Geneva as the sprint coach for three years.

"Coach Yow (Yowler) made them (Geneva student-athletes) want to win and I am looking to add on to that success and roll with it," said Thompson.

Geneva′s Interim Athletic Director Van Zanic summarized on behalf of the Geneva athletic department, "We are very excited about the addition of Phil to our head coaching staff. He has a lot of energy and passion for the track program and for Geneva College. Because he has been a member of the track staff he has a great familiarity with the program and the student athletes. We are confident that he can take the next steps to continue moving the program forward."

Geneva College invites students to accept the challenge of an academically excellent, Christ-centered education. Offering nearly 40 undergraduate majors, Adult Degree Programs with fully online and campus-based options, and seven graduate degrees, Geneva has programs that place students at the forefront of higher learning. Adhering to the inerrancy of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God′s word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today′s world.

May 24, 2014