Assistant Coach: Kaz Johnson
Hometown: Monmouth, Illinois
School: Monmouth-Roseville High School; Carl Sandburg College; St. Ambrose University (BA)
Running Highlights: Illinois high school state qualifier and school record holder in 110m hurdles; 2-time indoor MCC Conference champion in 2013 and 2014 and national qualifier in the high jump for St. Ambrose University in 2012. Shares indoor school record for St. Ambrose at 6-8 1/4 recorded at NAIA national meet in 2012.
Coaching Highlights: Coach Johnson completed his 9th season with the Pleasant Valley Girls Track & Field coaching staff in 2023. Working primarily with the high jump group, he led Annie Brown and Kelli DeGeorge to appearances at both the 2015 Drake Relays and Class 4A State meet. Guided Kelli to a school record-tying height of 5'7" during the 2015 season, her first Drake Relays high jump title, and her 3rd consecutive Class 4A state high jump title. Led Annie Brown to top 10 finishes at both the 2015 Drake Relays and Class 4A State meet. In 2016, he helped Kelli become the first Class 4A high school girl to win the high jump four consecutive years at the state meet and guided her to a new personal best and school record of 5' 8 1/2" at the state qualifying meet.
Kaz has since raised the bar and continued to have success in coaching athletes in the high jump events. In 2017, led newcomer Sara Hoskins to a 7th place finish at the 2017 State meet tying her personal best of 5'2". Led Sara to a Drake Relays qualification in 2018 and she followed that up with a 3rd place finish at the 2018 state meet with a height of 5'3". In 2019, Coach Johnson guided Sara Hoskins to a runner-up finish at the Drake Relays with a personal-best of 5'6", and Sara continued her rise up the podium with a runner-up finish at the 2019 State Meet. Sophomore Emily Wood was a first-time state qualifier in the event in 2019, placing 12th overall.
Since 2018, Coach Johnson has worked with the short sprint group and has been instrumental in guiding them to relay successes in both the 4 x 100 and 4 x 200m relay events. Both relay groups set new school records in 2018, and had top 3 finishes in both events at the 2019 state meet. Coach Johnson helped guide the 4 x 100 and sprint medley relay groups to huge success during the 2021 season with the 4 x 100m relay becoming state champions and the sprint medley relay finishing as runner-up. In 2023, the Spartans were among the top 15 in their class in the 4 x 100, 4 x 200, and sprint medley relay events.
2024 was yet another banner year in the high jump and the sprint and sprint relay events. Coach Johnson guided sophomore Hanley Schmidt to her first state qualification in the high jump and performing on her biggest stage, she cleared a lifetime best of 5' 2" to place 9th. Under Coach Johnson's leadership, sophomore Ashley Hansen led a strong sprint contingent placing 2nd in the 200m dash, and the Spartans got 3rd place finishes in the sprint medley relay and 4 x 100m relay events. The 4 x 100m relay group ran a time of 47.86 which was a school record and is now 7th all-time in Iowa high school history.
School: Monmouth-Roseville High School; Carl Sandburg College; St. Ambrose University (BA)
Running Highlights: Illinois high school state qualifier and school record holder in 110m hurdles; 2-time indoor MCC Conference champion in 2013 and 2014 and national qualifier in the high jump for St. Ambrose University in 2012. Shares indoor school record for St. Ambrose at 6-8 1/4 recorded at NAIA national meet in 2012.
Coaching Highlights: Coach Johnson completed his 9th season with the Pleasant Valley Girls Track & Field coaching staff in 2023. Working primarily with the high jump group, he led Annie Brown and Kelli DeGeorge to appearances at both the 2015 Drake Relays and Class 4A State meet. Guided Kelli to a school record-tying height of 5'7" during the 2015 season, her first Drake Relays high jump title, and her 3rd consecutive Class 4A state high jump title. Led Annie Brown to top 10 finishes at both the 2015 Drake Relays and Class 4A State meet. In 2016, he helped Kelli become the first Class 4A high school girl to win the high jump four consecutive years at the state meet and guided her to a new personal best and school record of 5' 8 1/2" at the state qualifying meet.
Kaz has since raised the bar and continued to have success in coaching athletes in the high jump events. In 2017, led newcomer Sara Hoskins to a 7th place finish at the 2017 State meet tying her personal best of 5'2". Led Sara to a Drake Relays qualification in 2018 and she followed that up with a 3rd place finish at the 2018 state meet with a height of 5'3". In 2019, Coach Johnson guided Sara Hoskins to a runner-up finish at the Drake Relays with a personal-best of 5'6", and Sara continued her rise up the podium with a runner-up finish at the 2019 State Meet. Sophomore Emily Wood was a first-time state qualifier in the event in 2019, placing 12th overall.
Since 2018, Coach Johnson has worked with the short sprint group and has been instrumental in guiding them to relay successes in both the 4 x 100 and 4 x 200m relay events. Both relay groups set new school records in 2018, and had top 3 finishes in both events at the 2019 state meet. Coach Johnson helped guide the 4 x 100 and sprint medley relay groups to huge success during the 2021 season with the 4 x 100m relay becoming state champions and the sprint medley relay finishing as runner-up. In 2023, the Spartans were among the top 15 in their class in the 4 x 100, 4 x 200, and sprint medley relay events.
2024 was yet another banner year in the high jump and the sprint and sprint relay events. Coach Johnson guided sophomore Hanley Schmidt to her first state qualification in the high jump and performing on her biggest stage, she cleared a lifetime best of 5' 2" to place 9th. Under Coach Johnson's leadership, sophomore Ashley Hansen led a strong sprint contingent placing 2nd in the 200m dash, and the Spartans got 3rd place finishes in the sprint medley relay and 4 x 100m relay events. The 4 x 100m relay group ran a time of 47.86 which was a school record and is now 7th all-time in Iowa high school history.
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