Coach & Staff Directory

Jeremy Groth just finished his 12th year with the Sasquatch and his 8th as Head Coach. He came home to Eastern Washington after spending 2 years playing and 4 years coaching in Southern California at Concordia University in Irvine, California.

During his 8 years as the Head Coach of the Sasquatch, he has led the program to be the most successful program in the entire NWAC with 178 wins during those 8 years (178-71, 71%). His teams have also led the NWAC in scoring the last 4 of the last 6 years (91 ppg, 97 ppg, 93 ppg, 92 ppg). He has also had 21 players from his teams move on to play at the 4 year level during that time.

In 2012-2013, his first year as head coach of the Sasquatch, he led them to a 21-10 overall record, they made the NWAC final 4 and ended up taking 3rd place overall in the NWAC. In Groth's second, Spokane finished with an 18-13 record and advanced to the season ending NWAC Championship Tournament and placed 9th. The 2014-15 the Sasquatch finished with a 19-11 record and lost a play-in game to get to the NWAC Tournament. The 2014-15 team lead the NWAC in scoring (91.3 ppg) and FG % (47%) and also set the school record for season scoring average at that time.

During his 4th year, the 2015-2016 team went 29-5 and won the NWAC Championship for the 3rd time in school history. The team led the NWAC in scoring (96.7 ppg), 3 pointers made (422), and also set the school record for points in a season (1173) and scoring average. The 2015-2016 team also had 6 sophomores get opportunities to play at the 4 year university level with 3 of those guys choosing to continue their basketball careers.

The 2016-17 team went 23-7, got 2nd in the Eastern Region and lost in the first round of the NWAC tournament. The team also led the NWAC again in scoring at 93 points per game. During the 2017-18 season the Sasquatch finished 22-9 while finishing 2nd in the Eastern Region again. They won their first round game against Tacoma in the NWAC Tournament before losing in the Elite 8 to Portland. That year’s team again led the NWAC in scoring at 92 points per game.

The 2018-2019 Sasquatch squad went 22-10 overall and finished 3rd in the Eastern Region. They then won their first 2 games of the NWAC Championship tournament against Umpqua and Whatcom to make it to the Final 4. They lost to Walla Walla in the Final 4 to finish 3rd place overall in the NWAC.
This past season in 2019-20, Spokane went 24-6.  They also won the Eastern Region Title (13-3 record), earned a # 1 seed into the NWAC tourney, and won their first round game of the NWAC Championship Tourney against Chemeketa right before the rest of the tournament was cancelled due to Covid 19.  The group finished 1^st-5^th in the NWAC Championships because of the cancellation and not being able to finish the tournament.  They averaged 89 points per game and had 4 sophomores all have opportunities to continue their playing and education career at the 4 year level.

As an assistant coach here at the Community Colleges of Spokane he helped Spokane to Eastern Region Titles in 2009, 2010, and 2012 while also placing 5th and 3rd overall in the highly competitive NWAC Championships in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

Coach Groth is a graduate of Curlew High School, where he once held the state of Washington's all-time scoring mark and is currently 3^rd on the list. He spent two years at NWAC East Region Rival Big Bend Community College where he earned All-NWAC honors and was named the conference's most inspirational player while helping lead the Vikings to the Championship game his sophomore season.

At Concordia, Groth was the leading scorer and one of the key players on the 2003 NAIA National Championship team and the 2004 NAIA National Runner-Up team with a dominant ability to hit clutch three-pointers and stifle opponents defensively. Groth finished his playing career shooting .439 from three-point range with 264 treys, second most in school history. In 2003, Groth hit a school record 141 three-pointers, 41 more than the second best single-season total. Groth graduated from Concordia in May 2004 with a degree in business/sports management and completed his master's degree in coaching and athletic administration in 2007. Groth was a pivotal part of the CU coaching staff that produced a 105-34 record and three trips to the NAIA National Tournament, including an appearance in the 2007 NAIA National Championship game.

In addition to his coaching duties, Coach Groth teaches Health, Fitness, and Physical Education classes at the Spokane Community College campus. He lives in Spokane with his wife Kelli and their 10 year old son Christian and 5 year old son Carson.

Michael Hannan is in his 1st season as an assistant coach for the Sasquatch.  Michael is no stranger to Spokane and the NWAC having graduated from Central Valley HS in 2015 and then continuing his basketball playing career at Pierce CC from 2015-17.  After graduating from Pierce, he then went on to play at NCAA D-2 Simon Frasier from 2018-20. 

Michael is known for being basketball savvy, his work ethic, and his will to win.  His duties will include player development, on court coaching, practice planning, academics, and assisting with recruiting.  He earned a Business Administration Degree concentrating in International Business and Finance from Simon Frasier University in 2020.  He currently lives in Spokane.

Sean McLachlan is in his 17^th year of coaching at CCS and 13^th as head men’s and women’s cross-country coach and assistant track coach.  In those 17 years the men’s team has won 11 team titles and finished runner up five times.  McLachlan has coached 52 men to All-American status and six athletes to individual titles.  McLachlan coached 21 of the top 30 8k times for men’s cross country at CCS, eight of which ran under 25 minutes. 

His women’s teams have also been dominant winning nine team titles and six 2^nd place finishes to go along with 39 All-Americans and seven Individual champions. His women have produced three of the top four times in CCS history and 13 of the top 30.  McLachlan has been named the NWAC conference Coach of the Year 12 times during his tenure.

In 2013 Jessica Mildes broke the school record for 5k in cross country running 17:06. She followed that performance up with her second NWAC title, winning by 43 seconds and becoming just the third female in conference history to win two individual titles.  The following year Daniel Schofield became the fourth male in conference history to win two NWAC titles. 

The 2007- and 2019-men’s cross-country teams will go down in history as two of the best teams in school history. Both teams had individual champions (Dak Riek and Johan Correa), both teams also put five athletes in the top seven at the NWAC Cross Country Championships  with both teams scoring a low of nineteen (19) points.  In 2014 the ladies put out one of the best teams in school history recording times of 18:10, 18:26, 18:31,18:43,18:44,18:48,19:02 and 19:31.    

Coach McLachlan’s athletes have also shined on the track for the Sasquatch.  Since 2009 at the conference meet, the men’s and women’s distance runners have scored a combined 1,328 points to go along with 107 All-Americans, and 47 individual conference champions. 

McLachlan has also coached athletes to seven 7 school records: Sean Coyle 3k Steeplechase (9:09.15), Mikel Elliott 3k Steeplechase (11:07.67), Jess Mildes 3k Steeplechase (10:54.02), 5k (16:47), 10k (34:29.36), Corbin Carlton 3k Steeplechase (8:59.10), and Mikaela Kostecka 3k Steeplechase 10:45.11). 

In 2014 Jessica Mildes had one of the most successful track seasons in school and conference history. Mildes set school and conference records in the 10k, 5k, 3k steeplechase and sits in third all-time in the 1500.  Her 10k time of 34:29 also set the National Junior College record.  At the NWAC conference meet. Mildes recorded victories in the 10k, 3k Steeplechase, 1500 and 5k scoring 40 points for her team and earning the high point and female track athlete of the meet awards. 

Mildes finished her career with eight All-American awards. Mildes and Micaela Kostecka both hold conference records in the 5k, 10k and 3k Steeplchase.    

McLachlan is a native of Spokane. He prepped at West Valley High School Spokane where he ran for his father, Jim McLachlan, who is a member of the Washington State high School Track and Cross-Country Coaches Hall of Fame.  Sean placed 4^th at the 1999 WIAA State meet in the 800 and finished 13^th his senior year in cross country. 

McLachlan would go on to run for Larry Beatty at CCS and finish with three All-American awards. After CCS Sean transferred to Southern Utah University and ran for Eric Houle and the Thunderbirds.  McLachlan helped lead the Thunderbirds to four conference championships. In 2003 he was conference champion in the 5k and runner up in the 3k at the Mid-Continent Conference Indoor Championships. 

Sean and his wife Rachel, met on the track team while at CCS where Rachel was a standout sprinter and jumper who earned multiple All-American awards for the Sasquatch.  They have two children, Mae and Owen. 

Entering his second year of coaching with the Sasquatch cross country team, Coach James Berry has already coached 25 All-Americans and has been an integral part of the success at CCS as both an athlete and coach.  The men won a record ninth consecutive NWAACC title in 2009 with Coach Berry’s help and in the process recorded five All-American awards. Coach Berry’s knowledge and love of distance running and track and field is immense. Before CCS, James was assistant coach at Central Valley High School in Spokane from 2001-2005 and then head coach from 2006-2008. In 2006, his team was ranked 21st in the nation and finished third at the 4A state meet behind the first- and second-ranked teams in the country. In 2007, they backed up their third-place finish with a fourth-place finish at the 4A state meet. These two teams are the only ones to trophy at state for Central Valley in Cross Country. Coach Berry ran at University High School in Spokane for legendary coach Bob Barbero (CCS Alumni).  As an athlete for Spokane, Coach Berry was a part of two NWAACC XC team titles and two NWAACC track titles. He was a two time XC All American and boasts PRs of 25:03 for 8k XC, 9:19 in the steeple chase, 14:26 road 5k, and 30:56 10k. 

I am very humbled to be back at Spokane Community College as a faculty instructor and the head track and field coach for both men and women. My start here at Spokane, as a student athlete, and then later as an assistant coach shaped my future in the track coaching world. I am so proud to be part of a school and a program that has meant so much to me for so long.

In his first NWAC Championships (2019) as the Spokane head coach, Spatz and his coaching staff saw 20 Spokane student athletes earn top three event finishes earning All-American recognition in 10 different events. 5 individuals earned 6 NWAC conference titles in their events, with JJ Curry earning NWAC Track Athlete of the Meet honors by winning the 100 (10.84), 200 (21.70) and anchoring the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays to runner up finished earning a team high 24 points. Jolene Whiteley was high point scorer for the women with winning the 3K Steeple (11:25.99), 5K (18:40.82), and runner up in the 1500 (4:55.58) scoring 28 points.

The 2021 season was without an NWAC championship, yet the sasquatch track squad racked up a total of 40 NWAC All-American honors by finishing the season ranked in the top three in their respective events on the conference performance list.

Entering his 36th year as a collegiate cross country/track and field coach, Spatz has developed 147 Performance All-Americans and 7 National Champions (4 NAIA), (3 NCAA II).

At Northwest Nazarene University (NCAA II) from 2002-2018, Spatz coached 520 GNAC All-Academic team members and 59 USTFCCCA Academic All-Americans. 206 athletes set school records, and 63 were GNAC event champions. His teams have produced a total of 148 GNAC All-Conference performances on the men’s side, and 161 GNAC All-Conference performances on the women’s side since 2002.

Coach Spatz saw 75 student athletes compete at the NCAA II national championships indoors and out with Ashley Puga winning the 2009 NCAA II National championship in the women’s 800 both indoor and outdoor with a best time of 2:04.45.  Puga was inducted into the USTFCCAA National Track Hall of Fame ion 2018
In 2017 Payton Lewis won the National Championship outdoors in the pole vault with a winning jump of 17’ 7”. Lewis earned a total of 5 NCAA II All-American Awards during his career. Lewis and Puga are among the most decorated athletes in both NNU and GNAC history.

Coach Spatz coached at Eastern Oregon University (NAIA/NCAA III) for 14 years 1988-2002, including 12 years as head track and field coach for men and women. During that time Spatz coached 4 National Champions (Leah Merrell Hammer Throw, Kristen Peterson Pole Vault, April Haney Weigh Throw, Thad Hathaway High Jump).

A total of 33 Indoor All Americans, 24 Outdoor All American’s, and 18 athletes earned Scholar Athlete All American Honors. The teams accomplished many program firsts during his time there, including the first student athletes to compete at the NAIA Indoor National Champions (Jason Werst and Thad Hathaway), as well as the first female National Champion, Kristen Peterson in the women’s pole vault.

Spatz began coaching in 1985 at Spokane Community College as an assistant for Coach Hartman with the men’s team and Curt Ransford the women’s coach. From 1985-88 he coached several conference champions in the NWAACC and helping each team win conference titles. During the 1987-88 season he also coached at University High School in Spokane, his alma mater.

In 2014, Spatz was inducted into the Spokane Community College Athletic Hall of Fame as an athlete winning the conference decathlon in back-to-back years, setting the conference record both years. Spatz was also inducted as part of the coaching staff for both the 1986- and 1987-men’s championships track teams, and the 1986 women’s championship team.

His 1983 team was also inducted into the Hall of Fame having won the 17th straight conference title for Coach Buck and Coach Hartman. Spatz is one of a small group of Spokane athletes to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a student athlete, team member and as part of a coaching staff.

The 1988 graduate of Eastern Washington University (NCAA I) is certified by USA Track & Field as both an official and Level II coach. From 1993-96 Spatz served as the chair of the NAIA Cultural Exchange Committee. In 1994 he led a group of NAIA athletes on a trip to Barcelona, Spain, where they participated in the Catalonian Senior Championships.

In 1995, Spatz was added to the World Sports Exchange (WSE) coaching staff. That August he traveled to Australia with WSE and 100 high school cross country athletes for 10 days of training and racing. In July of 2001, Spatz traveled to Laos and Thailand with 12 athletes and one other coach with Athletes in Action. The team led clinics in both countries covering all areas of track and field.

Beginning in 2005, Spatz has served as the Lead Track and Field Clinician for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes summer camps in Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Oregon. In the summer of 2008, Spatz helped develop one of the first FCA pole vault camps in the country.

Spatz and wife Cindy have two adult children, a daughter Rachael 30, and son Micah 26, and a bird dog, Annie Oakley 9.
 

Entering his second year of coaching with the Sasquatch cross country team, Coach James Berry has already coached 25 All-Americans and has been an integral part of the success at CCS as both an athlete and coach.  The men won a record ninth consecutive NWAACC title in 2009 with Coach Berry’s help and in the process recorded five All-American awards. Coach Berry’s knowledge and love of distance running and track and field is immense. Before CCS, James was assistant coach at Central Valley High School in Spokane from 2001-2005 and then head coach from 2006-2008. In 2006, his team was ranked 21st in the nation and finished third at the 4A state meet behind the first- and second-ranked teams in the country. In 2007, they backed up their third-place finish with a fourth-place finish at the 4A state meet. These two teams are the only ones to trophy at state for Central Valley in Cross Country. Coach Berry ran at University High School in Spokane for legendary coach Bob Barbero (CCS Alumni).  As an athlete for Spokane, Coach Berry was a part of two NWAACC XC team titles and two NWAACC track titles. He was a two time XC All American and boasts PRs of 25:03 for 8k XC, 9:19 in the steeple chase, 14:26 road 5k, and 30:56 10k. 

Linda is in her 25^th year at the Community Colleges of Spokane and 40^th year coaching track and field at the college, high school, and club team level. She has Coached over 58 Jr. College All-Americans in the hurdles and 36 Conference Champions between men and women combined. She received Hall of Fame Awards for 2005 and 2015 CCS teams, and loves seeing her Sasquatch athletes move on and continue their education and their sport. She puts her athletes first and their success is her priority.

In 2017 Linda was inducted into the Washington High School Coaches Hall of Fame. She has represented the USA as sprints-hurdles coach in China, Peru, London, and Japan as well as Jr. Worlds in Eugene and NACAC in Miramar Florida. She was selected women’s head coach twice and men’s head coach for the World Relays in 2019. Coach Lanker was awarded the President’s Award in 2016 from USATF for her outstanding service as a US Coach and a National Official. She continues to organize coaching clinics as well as speaks on hurdle technique and drills.

Coach Lanker is a former Jr. National Champion in the 400m hurdles in 1974 with a time of 61.0 and was ranked in the top 10 Women’s Division from 1973-76. She was AAU State Champion and ALL American in both hurdles. Linda competed for Arizona State and was a part of the 1977 WAC Regional Championship team and competed in Mexico City that summer winning the Bronze Medal in the 100 high hurdles. She has been a Masters National Champion 3 times in the long hurdles and received Master’s athlete of the Year in 1997.

Coach Lanker lives in Coeur d Alene Idaho with her husband Glen, they have 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren.

Sean McLachlan is in his 17^th year of coaching at CCS and 13^th as head men’s and women’s cross-country coach and assistant track coach.  In those 17 years the men’s team has won 11 team titles and finished runner up five times.  McLachlan has coached 52 men to All-American status and six athletes to individual titles.  McLachlan coached 21 of the top 30 8k times for men’s cross country at CCS, eight of which ran under 25 minutes. 

His women’s teams have also been dominant winning nine team titles and six 2^nd place finishes to go along with 39 All-Americans and seven Individual champions. His women have produced three of the top four times in CCS history and 13 of the top 30.  McLachlan has been named the NWAC conference Coach of the Year 12 times during his tenure.

In 2013 Jessica Mildes broke the school record for 5k in cross country running 17:06. She followed that performance up with her second NWAC title, winning by 43 seconds and becoming just the third female in conference history to win two individual titles.  The following year Daniel Schofield became the fourth male in conference history to win two NWAC titles. 

The 2007- and 2019-men’s cross-country teams will go down in history as two of the best teams in school history. Both teams had individual champions (Dak Riek and Johan Correa), both teams also put five athletes in the top seven at the NWAC Cross Country Championships  with both teams scoring a low of nineteen (19) points.  In 2014 the ladies put out one of the best teams in school history recording times of 18:10, 18:26, 18:31,18:43,18:44,18:48,19:02 and 19:31.    

Coach McLachlan’s athletes have also shined on the track for the Sasquatch.  Since 2009 at the conference meet, the men’s and women’s distance runners have scored a combined 1,328 points to go along with 107 All-Americans, and 47 individual conference champions. 

McLachlan has also coached athletes to seven 7 school records: Sean Coyle 3k Steeplechase (9:09.15), Mikel Elliott 3k Steeplechase (11:07.67), Jess Mildes 3k Steeplechase (10:54.02), 5k (16:47), 10k (34:29.36), Corbin Carlton 3k Steeplechase (8:59.10), and Mikaela Kostecka 3k Steeplechase 10:45.11). 

In 2014 Jessica Mildes had one of the most successful track seasons in school and conference history. Mildes set school and conference records in the 10k, 5k, 3k steeplechase and sits in third all-time in the 1500.  Her 10k time of 34:29 also set the National Junior College record.  At the NWAC conference meet. Mildes recorded victories in the 10k, 3k Steeplechase, 1500 and 5k scoring 40 points for her team and earning the high point and female track athlete of the meet awards. 

Mildes finished her career with eight All-American awards. Mildes and Micaela Kostecka both hold conference records in the 5k, 10k and 3k Steeplchase.    

McLachlan is a native of Spokane. He prepped at West Valley High School Spokane where he ran for his father, Jim McLachlan, who is a member of the Washington State high School Track and Cross-Country Coaches Hall of Fame.  Sean placed 4^th at the 1999 WIAA State meet in the 800 and finished 13^th his senior year in cross country. 

McLachlan would go on to run for Larry Beatty at CCS and finish with three All-American awards. After CCS Sean transferred to Southern Utah University and ran for Eric Houle and the Thunderbirds.  McLachlan helped lead the Thunderbirds to four conference championships. In 2003 he was conference champion in the 5k and runner up in the 3k at the Mid-Continent Conference Indoor Championships. 

Sean and his wife Rachel, met on the track team while at CCS where Rachel was a standout sprinter and jumper who earned multiple All-American awards for the Sasquatch.  They have two children, Mae and Owen. 

Travis earned his bachelor's and master’s degrees in exercise science from Eastern Washington University. Travis has nearly two decades of experience in the fitness industry as a strength coach, personal trainer, wellness director, and instructor. He has been a faculty member at Spokane Falls Community College since 2005.