Coaches Spotlight- Geoffrey Sudderth
1 - Congrats on having a great regular season. When did you first become interested in Track and Field?
Thanks! Although I never competed in Track and Field, I have always been a fan of the sport. I love the diversity of skill needed to create a solid Track and Field team.
2- Did you compete in HS or College as an athlete? or another Sport?
I ran Cross Country and played Baseball in HS.
3- Describe your journey from novice Coach to your Head Coaching position now.
I'd say that's a never-ending journey. There is always more to learn. Getting to work with and compete against excellent coaches - that's the key. I've learned more by watching others and asking how they do it than from anything else.
4- How important is it to have the full support of the AD and resources available to succeed?
Having a good relationship with Rusty Hudson (Westminster AD) has been crucial for me. Rusty is an expert at seeing situations from different angles and I seek his counsel often. He has been as significant as any mentor I've had as an educator.
5- What are some of the challenges in building a successful program?
Getting the student-athletes excited about Track and Field. That's the challenge. Great athletes are walking the halls at every school, but sometimes they don't get how cool Track and Field is as there isn't a ball to chase around.
6- Do you have a supportive Track Booster Club?
It would be impossible for Catbackers and the Track parents to be more supportive of the athletes and coaches.
7- Has Middle Track the past few years in your feeder schools helped contribute to the HS program's success?
We have an excellent Middle School program with a very strong coaching staff who gets the kids to the sport and excited about challenging themselves to constantly improve.
8- What are your program's Goals every season? County/Region title, State Championship?
We want the students to set the goals so we can support them in their pursuit of those goals.
9- Assess your team's Region meet and the opporunities faced at Sectionals to advance.
We are very proud of how both our teams competed at Region and are excited to go along for the ride at Sectionals, and for many, hopefully on to State.
10- What advancements should the GHSA make to bring our Sport on par with the 'other' 47 states ?
We need to become more spectator friendly and present less challenges to our schools (students/teachers missing class; paying for travel, etc). There are many ways to eliminate 4 of the 6 days involved in our 2 State Meets. I'd love to see a day in which we have Boys and Girls competing at the same site in a 2-day State Meet.
Bonus- What has been among your favorite accomplishments for the school you now coach at?
Watching students who do not necessarily work together in other areas of their lives come together and work to accomplish a common goal.