Search


coaching staff

 

Chad Colwell
 Hometown:  Union, OR
 High School:  
 College:

Eastern Oregon University (BA) Duke University (MA)

 

 Years at UGF:  1st

Head Coach

Cross Country / Track & Field

 

 

Chad Colwell enters his first season as Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach at the University of Great Falls after spending the previous year as an Assistant Coach at the University of Portland. At Portland, Colwell coached the sprints, hurdles, 800m and steeplechase. From 2008 to 2010, Colwell was an Assistant Coach (volunteer) for Cross Country and Track & Field at Duke University working with the sprints, hurdles, relays, and jumps.
 
Prior to Duke, Colwell was an Assistant Coach at California State Polytechnic University – Pomona in 2007-08. While at Cal Poly Pomona, Coach Colwell assisted in hosting the 2008 NCAA DII Track & Field National Championships, along with coaching the multi-events, jumps and javelin. Originally from Oregon, Coach Colwell began his career at Eastern Oregon University where he coached seven school record holders and five NAIA National Qualifiers.
 
In addition to coaching collegiate athletes, Mr. Colwell also coaches a handful of marathon runners including Rian Beach who was 5th at the 2008 Portland Marathon. In less than two years, Beach improved his time in the marathon by nearly 20 minutes to a Personal Best of 2:34.46 under Coach Colwell’s training. Chad Colwell earned his Master's Degree from Duke University and a Bachelor's Degree from Eastern Oregon University. He is a USATF Level 1 certified coach. 

 email Coach Colwell @ ccolwell01@ugf.edu

 

 

  

 

Jessica Harper
Hometown: Oregon City, OR
High School:  
College: Western Oregon University
Years at UGF: 1st

Assistant Coach

Cross Country / Track & Field

 

 Assistant coach Jessica Harper joins the Argos from Western Oregon University, where she both competed in and coached distance events. As an athlete, Harper was a two-time national qualifier and an All-American in the steeplechase. During her time as an assistant coach at Western Oregon, the men’s and women’s cross country teams qualified together for the National Championship for the first time since the institution joined the NCAA in 1988, and the men’s track & field team won their fourth consecutive indoor championship and their fifth overall outdoor championship. Originally from Oregon City, Oregon, Harper continues to train and compete with the Oiselle Racing Team.

 

 email Coach Harper @ jharper01@ugf.edu

 

 

 

 

Sarah Skipper
Hometown: Lewstown, MT
High School: Fergus High School
College: Jamestown College
Years at UGF: 1st

Assistant Coach

Track & Field

 

 Native Montanan Sarah Skipper enters her first season for the Argos this fall. Coach Skipper graduated from Jamestown College where she holds current individual school records in both the pentathlon and heptathlon and a team school record in the long relay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dennis Black
Hometown: Great Falls, MT
High School: Great Falls High School
College: Upper Iowa University
Years at UGF: 1st

Assistant Coach

Track & Field

 

The University of Great Falls is excited to have Dennis Black returning to the track & field staff as the throws coach.  Coach Black is a highly recognized name in Montana track & field. He still holds the Montana high school state meet all-class shot put record (68-1/2) abd had high school best of 70-07 (shot put) and 205-10 (discus). Coach Black competed at Upper Iowa University where he was a 2-time NCAA DII National Champion in the shot put and a 3-time NCAA Academic All-American.  In his post-collegiate career, Black competed in 2 US Olympic Trials and finished with a best of 68-10 in the shot put.  After a year as a volunteer coach at the University of Montana, Coach Black spent 2001-2010 coaching throwas at Great Falls High School.

  

 

 

 

University of Great Falls | 1301 20th Street South, Great Falls, Montana 59405 | 800-856-9544 | Contact