USAT, USA Triathlon, is the governing body for amateur and Olympic triathlon in the US. The minimum requirements to become a USAT Expert coach include:
- Minimum of two years triathlon coaching experience following USA Triathlon Level I certification.
- One of the following:
- BA or BS degree in sport science or related field
- Elite Athlete history within USAT National Teams Program
- Annual Service to the USA Triathlon National Teams Program or educational contributions to the sport of triathlon, (i.e., service during a USA Triathlon camp or clinic, serving in the capacity of USA Triathlon Regional Coaching Coordinator, contributions to the USA Triathlon Coaching Certification Program.)
Meet the Coaches!
Coach Valerie Ellsworth Gattis
Coach Valerie Ellsworth Gattis,
USA Triathlon Level II Certified Coach,
USAT Youth & Junior Certified Coach
Coach Valerie applies the knowledge gleaned from her multi-sport experiences (five-time finisher Ironman World Championship Triathlon, Kona, Hawaii; Gold Medalist ITU Long Course World Championships; two-time 1st Place Race Across America) to train others to become the best athletes they can be. Through varying levels of on-line and in-person training, she offers unique programs that are customized to address the individual needs of each athlete.
Coach Duston Morris
Coach Duston Morris,
PhD, MS, CHES, CTRS, ACE-CPT, Assistant Professor at Department of Health Sciences,University of Central Arkansas
Coach "D" is a long-time trainer and multisport coach. He has an extensive background in health and fitness education which he applies to training of adult and youth multisport athletes. His focus is on the appropriate development of physiological progression and specialized training required to help athletes grow and excel in multisport. Through various levels of on-line and in-person training, Coach D offers unique programs that are customized to address the individual needs of each athlete. He utilizes his personal experiences (Boston Marathoner, Ironman Finisher, Age Group Nationals, US Half Nationals) as an endurance athlete to inspire and motivate athletes regarding the comprehensive benefit of participating in the multisport lifestyle. Coach D has proven success with adult and youth athletes. Some of his top achievements have been helping adult athletes qualify for Age Group Nationals, 70.3 World Championships, and Team USA, while he is nationally recognized for developing and implementing successful youth camps and clinics. Coach D has a successful track record as both a coach and an athlete.
Coach Alan Maruschak
Coach Alan Maruschak,
BS, Performance Enhancement Specialist, Certified Pose Method Running Coach - Level 1, USA Track & Field - Level 1 Coach
“There are lots of great programs about what to run, when, and how much to run. I show you the "HOW."
Coach Alan's specialty is running technique training. He has run every distance from the mile to the marathon. Based upon his experience as a personal trainer, proper technique is crucial to any runner's success. Running is a skill that can be learned. By applying his eye for detail, he will analyze how a person runs and develop drills to help improve the skill. When the technique is sound, a runner will become stronger, faster, and more injury-free. Once the foundation is built, the sky is the limit. A runner's training program needs to be built around a sturdy foundation. The mile and the marathon are one and the same: they both come down to technique. Running is running.
“My goal is to say what they are thinking as well as prove that I have the knowledge and experience to back it up. I've been a runner for over half my life. My philosophy is, If you are going to do something, you might as well do it right."
Therefore, for the last seven years, he has been on a personal journey to find the best running technique. This enlightening endeavor has led him to teach Pose Method.
Coach Alan is also the coach for our newest training program: The Steel Plan. The Steel Plan is training specific for the Obstacle Course Event Race. Growing in popularity, these fun but tough endurance races offer a combination of mud runs, trail runs, and mental and physical obstacles and challenges. Let's start building super heroes!